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THE LIBRARY] 
OF CONGRESS 

WASHINGTON 



TESTIMONIALS 



RELATING TO 



HOTCHKIN'S HISTORY OF WESTERN NEW YORK 



An Extract from the Minutes of the Synod of Geneva. 

" Whereas Rev. James H. Hotchkin has stated to this Synod his design to 
compile and prepare a History of the Presbyterian Church in Western New 
Yo^ 

'^Resolved, That the above Plan of Mr. Hotchkin is warmly approved and 
commended to the patronage of the churches, and that the papers and documents 
of this Synod be opened freely to his inspection ; and Pastors and Sessions 
within our bounds are requested to co-operate with him by furnishing any mate- 
rials in their power needful for the completion of the Work. . _ ~ 

" A true Extract from the Minutes of the Synod of Geneva. 

« Cortlandville, Oct. 9th, 1845. - '. y 

"Attest, P. Fowler, Temp. Clerk." 

A Testimonial similar to the above was given by the Synod of Genesee in July, 
1846 ; also by the Presbytery of Geneva in Feb., 1845. 

Testimonials from Rev. Henry Mills, D.D., Rev. Laurens P. Hickok, D.D., and 
Rev. Samuel M. Hopkins, Professors in the Theological Seminary of Auburn, 
and Rev. Luther Halsey, D.D., late Professor of Ecclesiastical History. 
" Deeply impressed with the importance of an accurate history of the state of 
society in Western New York, especially of the rise and extension of our churches 
in this interesting region, and of securing a knowledge of the facts while yet the 
memory of the pioneers of the enterprise is fresh in the minds of surviving wit- 
nesses, it was with pleasure we heard of the design of Rev. James H. Hotchkin 
to prepare such a history. — The early acquaintance of Mr. Hotchkin with the 
efforts in" their incipient stages, the part he has subsequently borne, and his 
habits of statistical accuracy in facts and dates, seem to designate him as the one 
above all others who should engage in such a work. The length of time which 
he has sedulously devoted to gather and arrange the requisite materials, increases 



ii 



TESTIMONIALS. 



our confident hope that he will supply a volume highly acceptable to the general 
reader, and of the deepest interest to the churches whose early history it is his 
special object to record. 

Henry Mills, 
Samuel M. Hopkins, 
Luther Halsey. 

"Auburn, May 4th, 1848." 

" My acquaintance with Rev. Mr. Hotchkin has been more limited than in the 
case of my colleagues, but so far as it extends, it is in concurrence with the 
above. 

"L. P. Hickok." 

From Rev. Leonard E. Lathrop, D.D., Pastor of the Second Presbyterian 

Church of Auburn. 
" The views expressed above have my hearty concurrence. 

"L. E. Latheop." 

From Rev. Henry Dwight, of Geneva. 
"I have long been acquainted with Rev. Mr. Hotchkin, and think him well 
qualified for the work in which he is engaged. 

" H. D WIGHT." 

From Rev. Miles P. Squier of Geneva. 

" Mr. Hotchkin having been for about half a century an inhabitant of Western 
New York, and during that period intimately and extensively acquainted with its 
ecclesiastical history, and having devoted much time with patient industry and 
research to the subject of his contemplated work, will, I doubt not, make it a 
valuable acquisition to the Christian history and literature of the country. 

" Miles P. Squier." 

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS TO THE AUTHOR. 
From Rev. John A. Murray, Agent of the American Home Missionary Society. 
" The brethren whom I have consulted are of the opinion that such a work as 
you propose preparing is desirable, and would be highly useful. As a book of 
reference it would be very valuable, and if made to contain interesting facts of 
the early settlement of the towns and organization of the churches, it would be- 
come peculiarly interesting to many minds. The brethren are of opinion that 
your long residence in this part of the State and personal knowledge of facts 
would make you a suitable person to collect materials and complete the work." 

From Rev. Thomas Lounsbury, of Ovid. 

" If your History is ushered into the world in the right way and at the proper 
place, I think it will command a rapid and extensive sale, so that you may be 
handsomely remunerated for your labors. It is just such a work as all the clergy 
and many laymen will desire to possess." 



TESTIMONIALS. 



Ill 



From Hon. Elial T. Foote, formerly First Judge of the County of Chautauque. 
" It will be a pleasure and not a burden to render you all the assistance in my 
power in your most praiseworthy effort. Some years since, I urged upon you 
the importance of committing to paper your early reminiscences of Western New 
York, as connected with the foundation of churches, and early missionary opera- 
tions. I well knew that your own recollections alone were important to be pre- 
served. You have seen Western New York brought from a savage wilderness to 
its present situation. You were an early laborer there in planting the standard 
of Christ, and God, in his mercy, has spared you to survive all, or nearly all, of 
the pioneers of our country in missionary operations. I shall prize your book 
highly, and I long to see it published, and hope it may not only prove a blessing 
to the churches by raising a spirit of grateful recollection for past mercies, but 
that you may be abundantly remunerated in a pecuniary point of view, by the 
rapid sale of your book when published." 

From S. S. Forman, Esq., of Onondaga. 
" I hope that you will meet with every encouragement to complete your enter- 
prise of writing the History of Western New York." 

From Wm. Eager, Esq., of De Witt. 
"Should you -be successful in procuring the materials you want to complete 
the undertaking, you will doubtless be instrumental of great good to the churches 
and people of Western New York, to say nothing of the good to others. May 
the Lord, our Heavenly Father, succeed and prosper you therein." 

From Rev. Amos C. Tuttle, Sherburne. 
" I am highly gratified with your contemplated plan, and trust you will receive 
all needed assistance from the pastors of the churches. A history of the Pres- 
byterian churches in Western New York would constitute such a record of God's 
grace and covenant faithfulness with his people, as should be transmitted to 
those who shall come after us." 

From Rev. W. N. McHarg, Albion. 
" I shall be happy, if it should be in my power, to do you any service, as the 
object is one in which I feel great interest." 

From Rev. E. B. Fancher, Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Cortland. 
" Permit me, Sir, to wish you success in your labor of love. May it be a 
monument to your memory which shall long be fondly cherished by the churches 
of Western New York !" 

From Rev. H. J. Gaylord, Union. 
" The above statement is submitted with the wish and prayer that your efforts 
to prepare a History, in every way so desirable, may be crowned with success." 

From Rev. Linus W. Billington, Scoltsville. 
" You have undertaken a work which will require much thought and pains ; 
but I hope you will find it pleasant, and be able to finish it to your satisfaction. 
It will be a work of great interest to many, and well adapted to be useful." 



A 



HISTORY . 

OF THE 

PURCHASE AO SETTLEMENT 

OF 

WESTERN III YORK, 

AND OF THE 

RISE, PROGRESS, AND PRESENT STATE 

OF THE 

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 

IX THAT SECTION. 

- BY ./ 

REV. JAMES H. HOTCHKIK. 



NEW YORK: 
PUBLISHED BY M. W. DODD, BRICK CHURCH CHAPEL, 

OPPOSITE CITY HALL. 

1848. 



■ 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1848, by 

JAMES H. HOTCHICIN, 

n the Clerk's office of the District Court of the United States for the Northern 
District of New York. 



PREFACE, 



In presenting the following work to the public, the author feels that no apolo- 
gy is necessary. It contains a record of facts in which the providence, the 
power, and the grace of God have been manifested in a very conspicuous man- 
ner, and calculated to call forth emotions of gratitude and expressions of thanks- 
giving from the hearts and lips of the people of God. The providence of God 
towards Western New York, and towards the Presbyterian Church in that re- 
gion, has been peculiar, and deserves to be had in everlasting remembrance. In 
the compilation of this work, in which the author has spent the greater part of 
three years, he trusts that he has not been unmindful of the advice of a vene- 
rated servant of Christ, a former laborer in tins part of the moral vineyard, in 
speaking of the instruments which God has employed in preaching the gospel, 
and establishing churches in this region, to speak of them in the spirit of 1 Cor= 
iii. 5-7, and to speak and write in such a manner, "-that God in all things may 
he glorified through Jesus Christ" The author has been a preacher of the Gos- 
pel in Western New York ever since the summer of 1801. At that period the 
Congregational and Presbyterian ministers resident on the territory, did not ex- 
ceed in number ten or twelve, and the churches were few and small. All the 
ministers are now deceased, with one exception, and that one has long since left 
the region. The author has therefore been conversant with the ecclesiastical 
affairs of Western New York longer than any other Presbyterian minister. Nor 
has he been an inattentive observer of the events that have occurred. In the 
following History he relates many things from his own observation and recol- 
lection, and some from a vivid recollection of conversations with early settlers 
many years since. In laboring to prepare himself for the work he has examined 
with care, and made extracts from the Minutes of the General Assembly of the 
Presbyterian Church, the Records of the Synods and Presbyteries in Western 
New York, the Reports of Missionary and other Societies, old Magazines, in 
some instances, Files of Newspapers, Laws of the State of New York, and every 
other document within his knowledge that might give him any information. 
Nearly three years since he issued a Circular, announcing his purpose to com- 
pile and publish a History of the Presbyterian Church in Western New York? 
together with the plan of the intended work, and requesting the history of in- 



viii 



PREFACE. 



dividual churches, in reply to questions proposed in the Circular. Five hun- 
dred copies of this Circular were distributed. It was the intention of the author 
that one of these Circulars should be placed in the hands of the pastor or some 
other individual of each Presbyterian and Congregational church. The num- 
ber of churches, the history of which is given in this work, is about 430. The 
author has received answers to his Circular relating to about 130 of these church- 
es. The history of the others has been gathered from other sources, and the in- 
formation in most instances was very scanty. He has in many instances found 
difficulty resulting from the change of names. The original church of Au- 
relius is now Springport. The original church of Geneseo is now Lakeville. 
The present church of Pittsford was originally Northfield, then Boyle, and sub- 
sequently, Pittsford. Very many such changes have occurred in the progress of 
time, and in many instances the change is not noticed on the Records of the 
Presbyteries. From these circumstances the author cannot be positive that he 
has not, in some few instances, been led into mistakes. He can only say, that 
he has endeavored to be accurate, and has intended to rely on no doubtful tes- 
timony. Where the author has expressed an opinion which he knows is in con- 
flict with the opinion of many others, and especially concerning subjects which 
have elicited strong feeling, he has intended to exhibit his views with kindness, 
and in conciliatory language, and he believes that his work will not be character- 
ized as a mere partisan performance, but will be read with satisfaction by those 
who may differ with him in opinion. It has been his wish to produce a work 
which should impart profitable instruction, and be read with pleasure by differ- 
ent classes, and which in the clergyman's study and gentleman's library should 
constitute a valuable book of reference for many years to come. How far he has 
succeeded in his enterprise must be left for a candid public to judge. 

The author's History relates to Western New York. This term may be some- 
what ambiguous. As the author employs the term. Western New York embraces 
all that part of the State of J\ew York which is bounded on the east by the east- 
ern bounds of the counties of Broome, Chenango, and Madison: on the. north 
by the northern boundary of the county of Onondaga, and Lake Ontario ; and on 
the north-west, west, and south, by the boundaries of the State. 

In conclusion, the Author would commend his work to God, and to the kind- 
ness of an intelligent Christian Public, hoping that the reader will find in it 
matter of thanksgiving and praise to God, and benefit to his own soul. 



August 1st, 1848. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I . 

Western New York. Its Importance : its original Inhabitants. The Iroquois: Sketch 
of their History. Conflicting Claims of different States to the Territory of Western 
NewYork. Settlement with Massachusetts : with Connecticut Indians the sole 
Inhabitants of Western New York, prior to the War of the Revolution : the part 
which they took in that War. Sullivan's Expedition. Treaty of Peace between 
the United States and the Six Nations. Purchase by the State of New York, of 
the Oneidas, of the Onondagas, of the Cayugas. The Military Tract: its Survey 
and Distribution. Commencement of Settlement. Sale of the Massachusetts 
Ten Townships. Sale of the Genesee County by Massachusetts to Phelps and 
Gorham. Phelps's Treaty with the Indians at Canandaigua. Boundaries of the 
Purchase described: Survey of the Purchase, and Commencement of Settlement. 
Sale to Robert Morris, Charles Williamson, and Sir William Pulteney. Sale of 
Massachusetts to Robert Morris. The Holland Purchase. Sale by the Indians to 
Robert Morris. Indian Reservations. Present Condition of the Indians. — Page 1. 

CHAPTER II. 

The Genesee County Settled at an earlier period than the Military Tract : Reasons 
for this. Commencement of Settlement on Phelps and Gorham's Purchase. Or- 
ganization of Ontario County. Settlement of the Military Tract. Settlement of 
the Territory west of the Genesee river. Rapidity of Settlement; Causes for it. 
Some Hindrances, Sickness, Disturbance with the Indians. Treaty between the 
United States and the Six Nations. Construction of Roads State Road from 
Utica to Genesee river. First Stage from Utica westward. Road from Genesee 
river to Buffalo. Ridge Road from Rochester to Lewiston. Some other Roads. 
Cayuga Bridge. Erie Canal. Railroads. Civil Divisions of Western New York. 
Notice of Whitestown, Geneseo, Northampton. Table respecting the Progress- of 
Population. — Page 13. 

CHAPTER III. 

Settlers in Western NewYork: their Origin. Motives for Emigrating. Character; 
Obstacles to the speedy establishment of Religious Institutions. First Organization 
of a Congregational Church, and Administration of the Lord's Supper. Rev. 
Zadoc Hunn, his Death and Character. Church organized in Palmyra: in Oquago : 
at Sherburne: at Newtown: at Charlestown : at Geneseo:. at East Bloomfield : 
South Bristol: North Bristol: West Bloomfield: Victor: Canandaigua: Middle- 
town: Pittstown : Augusta. Manner of Organization: Confession of Faith and 
Covenant. Settlement of Rev. John Rolph at South Bristol ; Rev. Reuben Par- 
mele at Victor ; Rev. Timothy Field Ordained and Settled: at Canandaigua : Rev. 
Joseph Grover Settled at North Bristol: Rev. Eleazer Fairbanks at Palmyra: 
Rev. Jedidiah Chapman at Geneva, a Standing Missionary: Rev. John Lindsley 



/ 



X 



CONTENTS. 



at Ovid : Rev. James H. Hotchkin at West Bloornfield : Rev Ahijah Warren at 
South Bristol. Harmony between Congregationalists and Presbyterians. Circum- 
stances contributing to the Formation of Churches and Settlement of Ministers. 
Missionaries. Revival. Dr. Williston's Letter. Mr. Bushnell's Letter. Manse 
used to promote the Revival : its Character and Results. Ontario Association. — 
Page 24. 

CHAPTER IV. 

Early Settlers on the Military Tract : their Character. Early Missionaries : Dr. 
Williston and others. Revivals of Religion. Organization of Churches. Milton, 
Aurelius, Skeneatoles, Pompey, Homer, Marcellus, Locke, Camillus, Ovid, Romu- 
lus, Ulysses, Junius. Rev. John Lindsley settled at Ovid: Rev. David Higgins at 
Aurelius: Rev. Hugh Wallis at Pompey: Rev. Nathan B. Darrow at Homer. Mr. 
Higgins's Letter. Presbytery of Oneida organized. Middle Association. — Page 42. 

CHAPTER V . 

Territory in Western New York East and South of the Military Tract. Chenango 
Country. The Massachusetts Ten Townships. Governor's Purchase. Col. Linck- 
laen's Purchase. Thomas's Patent : Bingham's Patent : Hooper and Wilson's Pa- 
tent : Coxe's Patent. Extinction of Indian Titles. Settlement of the Country. 
Mission to the Indians at Oquago. Progress of Settlement. Major Buck's Or- 
dination.— Page 51 

CHAPTER VI. 

Difficulties attending the compilation of a Religious History. Different character of 
different Settlements. Organization of a Church in Sherburne. Labors of Mission- 
aries. Dr. Williston located at Patterson's Settlement. Revival. Organization of a 
Church or House of Worship at Union, and Reformed Dutch Church. Rev. Mr. 
Palmer : Rev. Mr. Manly. Church organized at Owego and Jericho. Rev. Joel 
Chapin. Church organized in South Bainbridge, in Newark Valley, in Coventry, 
Rev. Joseph Wood: Rev. David Harrowar : Rev. William Stone: Rev. Joel T. 
Benedict : Rev. Seth Sage. Character of the Ministers and Churches in the Che- 
nango County. The Susquehannah Association Organization of two Churches in 
Sherburne. Rev. Joshua Knight : Rev. Roger Adams. Settlement of Oxford : 
Church organized at Oxford : at Cazenovia. Rev. Joshua Leonard. Church of 
Candor. Newtown. Dr. Amo3 Parks. Influence of the Revival of 179y. Exer- 
tions of Infidelity. Rev. John Camp.— Page 61. 

CHAPTER VII. 

State of the Country in 1S00. Territory West of Genesee River. Joseph Ellicott ; 
effect of his influence. Scotch Settlement at Caledonia. Organization of a Church. 
Rev. Alexander Denoon. Division of the Presbytery of Albany. Organization of 
the Synod of Albany Presbytery of Geneva constituted. Rev. David Higgins and 
Rev. Hezekiah N. Woodruff became Members of the Presbytery. Are to have 
pious and orthodox Ministers. Strictness in examining Members for the Church. 
Proposal of a union of the Middle Association with the Synod of Albany : plan of 
Union proposed by Synod: approved by the General Assembly. Union consum- 
mated. Presbytery of Geneva and Middle Association constituted three Presbyteries, 
Geneva, Cayuga, and Onondaga. Synod of Geneva constituted. Plan of union 



CONTENTS. 



xi 



considered as establishing a general principle. Adopted as such in other parts of 
the Presbyterian Church. Difference between Churches received on the accommo- 
dating plan, and strictly Presbyterian Churches. — Page 77. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Territory West of the Genesee River. Phelps and Gorham's Purchase ; the Mill 
Seat; the Triangle; the Connecticut Tract; the Cottinger Tract; the Church 
Tract; the Patterson Tract; the Starrett Tract. The Holland Purchase. Rapid 
Settlement of the Country. Peter Shaffer and Scottsville. Infidel Club. Ganson's 
Settlement. Almond. Rev. Andrew Gray. Organization of a Church. Settle- 
ment of Angelica. Town of Northampton divided. County of Genesee erected. 
Other Civil Divisions. Rev. David Perry, the first Missionary to this Region. 
"Father Spencer," his Labors, Character, Death, Monument. Church of Bergen, 
Riga. Rev. Allen Hollister. Church of Warsaw, Attica. Rev. Silas Hubbard. 
Church of Ogden, Fredouia, Buffalo, Lewiston, Hamburgh. The War with Great 
Britain, its effects on the Holland Purchase. Rev. Samuel Parker. Rev. Robert 
Hubbard. Church of Almond, Angelica. Mr. Hubbard ordained and installed ; his 
Labors, Character, and Death.— Page SS. 

CHAPTER IX. 

Ontario Association. Convention of Delegates from Associations in the State of New 
York at Clinton. Deliberations in the Convention ; different opinions ; failure of 
forming a General Association. Reason for a Union of the Presbyterian and Con- 
gregational denominations. Dissolution of the Ontario Association. Union of the 
Ministers and Churches with the Presbytery of Geneva: favorable results of this 
Union. Harmony of Ministers and Churches in Doctrine and Practice. Character 
of the doctrines generally preached. Labor of the Ministers of the period. Bene- 
fit of Ministers having much labor. Harmony between Resident Ministers and Mis- 
sionaries. Presbytery of Geneva divided into four Presbyteries, Geneva, Ontario, 
Bath, and Niagara. Enlargement of the Presbyteries. Presbytery of Rochester 
constituted. Presbytery of Genesee formed. Synod of Genesee erected. — Page 98. 

CHAPTER X. 

The Luzerne Association. Union Association. All Congregational Associations in 
Western New York defunct. Great increase of the Presbyterian Church. Increase 
of Population. Rochester, Buffalo. Presbytery of Cortland erected. Presbytery of 
Chenango. Presbytery of Delaware detached from the Synod of Geneva and con- 
nected with the Synod of Albany. Presbytery of Angelica organized, detached from 
the Synod of Geneva, and connected with that of Genesee. Presbytery of Chemung 
constituted. Presbytery of Pennsylvania. A Contrast. Presbytery of Tioga erected 
Presbytery of Ithaca. Church at the Pawnee Mission Station. Statistics of the 
Synod of Geneva. Alterations in the Boundaries of its Presbyteries. Synod of 
Genesee. Presbytery of Niagara erected. Presbytery of Buffalo. Changes in the 
Presbyteries. Statistics of the Synod of Genesee. General Remarks. — Page 109. 

CHAPTER XI. 

The Holy Spirit : the manner of His Operation. What constitutes a Revival. Revival 
of 1799. Revival in West Bloomfield : in Ulysses : East Groton : Homer : Sher- 



xii 



CONTENTS. 



burner Pompey: Otisco : Onondaga: Coventry: Sherburne : Windsor. Extracts 
from the Minutes of the General Assembly, the Presbytery of Geneva, and Synod of 
Geneva. Revivals of 1816 and 1817 ; in Cazenovia, Manlius, Sherburne, Norwich, 
Homer, Ontario, Auburn, Elbridge, Genoa First Church, Cayuga Village, Locke, 
Ithaca, Nevvfield, Binghampton. Revival in Romulus, Lyons, Palmyra, Geneva, 
Middlesex, Gorham, East Bloomfield, Victor, Phelps, Richmond, Livonia, Mount- 
Morris. State of the Church west of the Genesee River. Revivals. Ministers 
laboring in the Region. Character of the Revivals of this period. Means and 
Measures. — Page 121. 

CHAPTER XII. 

History of Revivals continued. Synod of Geneva, 1819. Prattsburgh. From 1822 to 
1825: 1826. Presbytery of Cayuga, Cortland Village, Marcellus, Genoa, Groton, 
Cayuga, Auburn, Ithaca, Danby, Candor. Character of the Revival, and means 
used. From 1827 to 1830. Revivals of 1831. Minutes of the General Assembly. 
Narrative of the Synod of Geneva, of the Synod of Genesee, of the Presbytery of 
Chenango, Cortland, Tigoa, Cayuga, Geneva, Bath, Angelica. Revivals in Onon- 
daga Presbytery. — Page 134. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

History of Revivals continued. Revivals of 1832. Synod of Geneva. Presbytery of 
Bath. Synod of Genesee. Revivals of 1833. 1834, Synod of Genesee. 1835, 
Spiritual drought. 1836, not remarkable. 1837, a year of Revivals. Synod of 
Genesee, Presbytery of Buffalo, Genesee, Angelica. Synod of Geneva. Revivals 
of 1333. Continuation of Revival till 1837.— Page 151. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Character of Revivals in Western New York, and means employed during the last 
twenty years. Testimony of the General Assembly, Synod of Geneva, Presbytery 
of Geneva. Three and four days' meetings. Protracted meetings. Evangelists, 
Leaders in protracted meetings, character of their preaching, Doctrine advanced. 
Rev. Charles G. Finney; Rev. Jedidiah Burehard ; Rev. Samuel G. Orton ; Rev. 
James Boyle ; Rev. Augustus Littlejohn. Resolution of the Presbytery of Angelica 
respecting Rev. David Slie. Presbytery of Genesee testify against the "American 
Revivalist and Rochester Observer." Presbytery of Ontario against the course pur- 
sued by Mr. Littlejohn. Presbytery of Cayuga against Mr. Myrick. Testimony of 
the Presbytery of Chenango ; of the Synod of Geneva respecting the Central Evan- 
gelical Association of New York. Conclusion. — Page 159. 

CHAPTER XV. 

History of Missionary operations in Western New York. The General Association of 
Connecticut sends Missionaries to Western New York. Specimen of their labors. 
Becomes the Missionary Society of Connecticut : its operations in Western New 
York. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church: early condition of the 
Presbyterian Church. Incipient steps with reference to Missions. Appointment of 
Missionaries to Western New York. Committee of Missions: Board of Missions. 
Change in the mode of employing Missionaries. Massachusetts Missionary Society, 
Berkshire and Columbia Missionary Society; Hampshire Missionary Society. So- 



CONTENTS. 



Xlll 



ciety for propagating the Gospel among the Indians and others of North America. 
New Hampshire Missionary Society. Morris County Associated Presbytery. Re- 
formed Dutch Church. — Page 176. 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Genesee Missionary Society, its organization, operations ; Funds derived from Female 
Associations, Indian School, Dissolution of the Society. Female Missionary Society 
of the Western District; Young People's Missionary Society of Western New York; 
the Western Domestic Missionary Society, Auxiliary to the American Home Mis- 
sionary Society. Young Men's Missionary Society of New York. The New York 
Evangelical Missionary Society. United Domestic Missionary Society. American 
Home Missionary Society, its Object, its Auxiliaries, and Agencies; Western 
Agency, Central Agency • Mode of Operations. Field of Labor : Amount of Ser- 
vice. Operations of the Society in Western New York: Result of these Opera- 
tions. — Page 190. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

History of the Theological Seminary of Auburn. Action of the Synod of Geneva ; of 
the General Assembly. Seminary located at Auburn : Labor commenced. Act of 
Incorporation. Corner-Stone laid. Seminary Buildings. First Meeting of the 
Boards of Trustees and Commissioners. Dr. Richards elected Professor of Theo- 
logy, but declined. Dr. Mills, Dr. Perrine, and Dr. Lansing elected Professors, 
Inaugurated. Instruction in the Seminary commenced. Ordinances of the Semi- 
nary. Course of Study. Anniversary. Vacations. Results of twenty-three years. 
Professorship founded by Arthur Tappan. Dr. Richards elected Professor. Dr. 
Lansing's Resignation. Bellamy and Edwards Professorship. Dr. Cox elected 
Professor. Death of Dr. Perrine. Dr. Halsey elected Professor. Dr. Cox's Re- 
signation. Dr. Dickinson elected Professor. Death of Dr. Richards. Dr. Halsey's 
Resignation. Dr. Hickok elected Professor. Dr. Dickinson's Resignation. Mr. 
Hopkins elected Teacher of Ecclesiastical History. Mr. Smith elected Professor. 
Funds of the Seminary.— Page 203. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

The Exscinding Act of 1837. Terms, " Old School" and "New School." Alleged 
Reasons for the Act. Plan of Union, its Origin. State of the Churches in Western 
New York. Examination of the Plan of Union : Examination of the Reasons al- 
leged for the Exscinding Act. Manner in which the Synods and Presbyteries were 
constituted. Charge of " Gross Disorders" examined. " Great errors in Doctrine" 
charged on the Exscinded Synods, or vague expression. Testimony and Memorial. 
List of errors. Extracts from the Minutes of the Synod of Geneva, the Synod of 
Genesee, the Presbytery of Buffalo. Report of the Convention of Auburn.— 
Page 222. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

The Subject continued. The real Reasons for the Exscinding Act, Difference in Doc- 
trinal Views, Difference in Judgment, how to conduct the Benevolent Operations of 
the Church. Determination of the Old School Party to secure a Majority in the 
Assembly. Measures adopted. Plan of Union abrogated : Committee of Ten, and 
their Report: Excision of the Synod of the Western Reserve : Declaration against 



xiv 



CONTENTS. 



the American Home Missionary Society, and American Education Society. Ex- 
cision of the Synods of Utica, Geneva, and Genesee. Dissolution of the Third 
Presbytery of Philadelphia. Organization of a Board of Foreign Missions. Testi- 
mony against Doctrinal Errors. Order to the Synods of Albany, New Jersey, 
Michigan, Cincinnati, and Illinois. State of feeling produced in Western New- 
York in view of the Exscinding Act. Fourth Resolution of the Assembly, how 
understood. Strictures on this Resolution. Attempt of the General Association of 
New York to divide the Churches ; these attempts abortive. Auburn Convention, 
Resolutions passed, Committees appointed, and their Reports ; unanimity of the Con- 
vention. Results of the Meeting. Commissioners of the Exscinded Presbyteries 
attend the Meeting of the General Assembly of 183S : their Commissions rejected. 
Assembly organized. Statistics of the New School Presbyterian Church : Statistics 
of the Old School Presbyterian Church in Western New York. Formation of Pres- 
byteries and a Synod. Increase of the New School Church in Western New York. 
—Page 241. 

CHAPTER XX. 

Course of Congregational Ministers and Churches after the Dissolution of the Asso- 
ciations. Rev. John Taylor. Genesee Consociation : the Monroe Association : the 
Consociation of Western New York. Attention paid by the New School Churches 
to the Benevolent Enterprises of the day. Home Missions : Foreign Missions : 
Bible Societies : Cayuga Bible Society : Female Bible Society of Geneva ; Cort- 
land Female Bible Society : other Societies Auxiliary to the American Bible So- 
ciety : the Monroe County Bible Society. Education of Poor and Pious Youth for 
the Ministry : Recommendations of the General Assembly on this Subject. Action 
of the Presbyteries. Western Education Society; Tract Societies: Tract Distri- 
bution. Colporteurs. Sabbath Schools : Genesee Sabbath School Union : County 
Unions. Sabbath School Statistics for 1833.— Page 253. 

CHAPTER XXI. 

Biographical Notices of Deceased Ministers. — Rev. Jedidiah Chapman: Rev. David 
Higgins: Rev. Henry Axtell, D.D. : Rev. Matthew L. R. Perrine, D.D. : Rev. 
Ebenezer Fitch, D.D. : Rev. James Richards, D.D. : Rev. Beriah Hotchkin — 
Page 264. 

CHAPTER XXII. 

History of Individual Churches, Synod of Geneva, Presbytery of Chenango : — Sher- 
burne, Smyrna, Otselic, East Lincklaen, East Pharsalia, Pharsalia First Congrega- 
tional, Plymouth, South New Berlin, Norwich, Preston, M'Donough, Smithville, 
Oxford, Guilford, Bainbridge, South Bainbridge, Bainbridge and Nineveh, Harpers- 
ville, Coventry First Church, Coventry Second Church, Green, Masonville, Coles- 
ville, Windsor, Barker, Triangle, Rockdale. — Page 288. 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

Presbytery of Onondaga. — Nelson, Peterboro' or Smithfield, Cazenovia, Canaseraga, 
Lenox, Wampsville, Oneida Lake, Ridgeville, Chittenango, Matthews's Mills, Man- 
lius, Manlius Centre, Oran, Pompey, Pompey Centre, Delphi, Tully, Otisco, La 
Fayette, Jamesville, Fayetteville, De Witt or Orville, Britton Settlement, Cicero, 



CONTENTS. 



XV 



Liverpool, Salina, Syracuse, Syracuse Congregational Church ; Syracuse Second 
Presbyterian Church: Onondaga West Hill, Onondaga Hollow, South Onondaga: 
Camillus, Camillus Third Church : Van Buren, Amboy, Baldwinsville, Lysander. — 
Page 307. 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

Presbytery of Cayuga. — Victory, Ira, Cato, Weedsport, Mentz, Montezuma, Elbridge 
Jordan, Marcellus First Church, Marcellus Second Church, Skeneatoles, Borodino, 
Sennett, Auburn First Church, Auburn Second Church, Cayuga Village, Aurelius, 
Springport, Fleming, Scipio Second Church, Scipio First Church, Aurora, Mo- 
ravia, Summer Hill, Milan, Genoa First Church, Genoa Second Church, Genoa 
Third Church, Lansing, Genoa Free Congregational, East Groton, Kingston. — 
Page 333. 

CHAPTER XXV. 

Presbytery of Geneva : — Wolcott Second Church, Wolcott, Huron, Sodus, Wayne,Wil- 
liamson, Pulteneyville, Ontario, Walworth, Marion, Rose, Savannah, Clyde, Lyons, 
Newark, Port Gibson, East Palmyra, Palmyra, Farmington, Vienna, Phelps, Junius, 
Tyre, Seneca Falls, Waterloo, Canoga, Fayette,- Geneva, Castleton, Hopewell, 
Chapinsville, Rushville, Gorham, Romulus, Ovid, West Dresden, Bellona, Pennyan, 
Branchpoint, Pontiac, Canandaigua. — Page 363. 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

Presbytery of Ithaca: — Peruville, West Groton, Ludlowville, Trumansburgh, Hector, 
Burdett, Mecklenburgh, Enfield, Ithaca, Varna, Dryden, Caroline, Derby, Newfield. 
Page 401. 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

Presbytery of Cortland : — De Ruyter, Lincklaen, Truxlon, Preble, Preble Corners, 
Scott, Homer, CortlandvilXe, M'Grawville, Solon, Pitcher, Cincinnatus and Solon, 
Freetown, Virgil, Virgil Second Church, Harford, Marathon, Lisle. — Page 416. 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

Presbytery of Tioga: — Centre Lisle, Richford, Berkshire, Newark, Newark Second 
Church, Candor, Spencer, Newfield Second Church, Veteran, Union First Congre- 
gational, Union, Binghampton, Binghampton Congregational, Castle Creek, Conk- 
lin, East Owego, Owego, Tioga, Nichols — Page 429. 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

Presbytery of Chemung : — Reading, Havanna, Catlin, Mead's Creek, Campbell, Horn- 
by, Millport, Fairport, Elmira, Elmira Congregational, Chemung, Athens, South- 
port, Big Flats, Corning, Painted Post First Church, Painted Post Second Church, 
Painted Post Village, Erwin, Addison, Thurston, Woodhull, Troupsburgh, Green- 
wood. — Page 441. 

CHAPTER XXX, 

Presbytery of Bath :— Starkey, Dundee, Rock Stream, Barrington, Wayne, Tyrone, 
Pulteney, Prattsburgh, Naples, Conhocton, South Dansville, Howard Second Church, 
Howard, Kennedyville, Wheeler, Hammondsport,Bath, Cameron, Hornellsville, Jas- 
per. — Page 45S. 



xvi 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

Synod of Genesee. — Presbytery of Rochester : — Webster, Penfield, Bushnell's Basin, 
Pittsford, Brighton, Rochester First, Rochester Brick Church, Rochester Third, 
Rochester Free, Rochester Washington Street, North Rochester, Parma and Greece, 
Parma, Parma Corners, Clarkson, Murray, Holley, Brockport, Sweden, Ogden, 
Adams's Basin, Gates, Henrietta, Chili, Churchville, Riga, North Bergen, Bergen, 
Wheatland, Rush, WestMendon, Mendon. — Page 484. 

C HAPTER XXXII. 

Presbytery of Niagara :— Carlton, Yates, Somerset, Wilson, Porter, Lewiston, Cambria, 
Lockport First, Lockport Second, Royalton, Middleport, Medina, Knowlesville, 
Gaines, Albion, Barre Centre, Millville, Pendleton, Chalmers, Niagara Falls. — 
Page 507. 

CHAPTER XXXIII 

Presbytery of Buffalo: — Newstead, Clarence, Black Rock, Buffalo First, Buffalo Free 
Congregational, Buffalo Pearl, Buffalo Park, Buffalo La Fayette Street, Buffalo Ger- 
man, Buffalo French Church, Indian Stations, Lancaster, Alden, Wales, East Au- 
rora, West Aurora, Hamburgh, Evans, Eden, Boston, Colden, Holland, Concord, 
Springville, Collins, Hanover, Forrestville, Silver Creek, Sheridan, Dunkirk, Fre- 
donia, Villanova, Lodi, West Otto, East Otto, Ashford, Franklinville, Ellicottville, 
Cherry Creek, Charlotte, Stockton, Chautauque, Portland, Westfield, Ripley, May- 
ville, Ellery, Ellington, Connewango, Napoli, Great Valley, Randolph, Waterboro', 
Ellicott, Jamestown, Ashville, Mina, Panama, Busti, Carroll.— Page 518. 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 

Presbytery of Genesee: — Byron, Elba, Oakfield, Alabama, Pembroke, Batavia, Staf- 
ford, Le Roy, Caledonia, Pavilion, East Bethany, Bethany Centre, Alexander, Union 
Church of Alexander and Darien, Darien, Darien Village, Bennington, Bennington 
Second, Attica, Attica Centre, Wyoming, Covington, Perry First, Perry Second, 
Perry Village, Warsaw, Orangeville, Varysburgh, Sheldon First, Sheldon Second 
or Strykersville, Java, Weathersfield Springs, Weathersfield, Gainesville, Carlisle, 
Pike, China.— Page 544. 

CHAPTER XXXV. 

Presbytery of Ontario : — Centrefield, East Bloomfield, Victor, West Bloomfield, Lima, 
Avon, Avon Free Church, York Second, York First, Moscow, Geneseo, Lakeville, 
Livonia, Richmond, Bristol, South Bristol, Canadice, Conesus, Groveland, Mount 
Morris, Mount Morris Second, Nunda, Sparta, Sparta Second, Dansville Village, 
Springwater, Conhocton Second. — Page 562. 

CHAPTER XXXVI. 

Presbytery of Angelica: — Dansville Free, Ossian, Portage, Portageville, Eagle, Cen- 
treville, Hume, Grove, Burns, Allen, Caneadea, Rushford, Farmersville, Black 
Creek, Haight, New Hudson, Belfast, Angelica, Almond, Amity, Friendship, Cuba, 
Burton, Olean, Sico, Andover, Independence.— Page 587. 



CHAPTER I. 



Western New York. Its Importance : its original Inhabitants. The Iroquois: Sketch 
of their History. Conflicting Claims of different States to the Territory of Western 
New York. Settlement with Massachusetts: with Connecticut Indians the sole 
Inhabitants of Western New York, prior to the War of the Revolution : the part 
which they took in that War. Sullivan's Expedition. Treaty of Peace between 
the United States and the Six Nations. Purchase by the State of New York, of 
the Oneidas, of the Onondagas, of the Cayugas. The Military Tract: its Survey 
and Distribution. Commencement of Settlement. Sale of the Massachusetts 
Ten Townships. Sale of the Genesee County by Massachusetts to Phelps and 
Gorham. Phelps's Treaty with the Indians at Canandaigua. Boundaries of the 
Purchase described: Survey of the Purchase, and Commencement of Settlement. 
Sale to Robert Morris, Charles Williamson, and Sir William Pulteney. Sale of 
Massachusetts to Robert Morris. The Holland Purchase. Sale by the Indians to 
Robert Morris. Indian Reservations. Present Condition of the Indians. 

Western New York is, on many accounts, justly considered as 
a very interesting part of the United States. Its soil, climate, and 
productions ; the natural face of the country greatly diversified ; 
its lakes and rivers, with their application to the purposes of trade 
and manufactures ; the extent of its internal improvements, with 
the rapidity of their growth ; the immense increase of the number 
of its inhabitants, connected with their enterprise, and intellectual 
and moral character ; its civil, social, literary, and religious insti- 
tutions, together with the circumstance that it constitutes the great 
thoroughfare between the East and the West, render it a peculiarly 
interesting part of the civilized world. Its history must be worthy 
of record and transmission to posterity. That its religious history 
may be understood and appreciated, it may be well to take a brief 
view of its settlement, the progress of its population, and civil 
divisions. 

The aboriginal inhabitants of Western New York and owners of 
its soil were the people denominated by the French the Iroquois, 
and by the English the Six Nations, and sometimes, on account of 
their union with each other, the Confederates. Originally they 
constituted but five communities, viz. the Mohawks, whose prin- 
cipal towns were adjacent to the Mohawk river ; the Oneidas, in 
the vicinity of Oneida lake ; the Onondagas, near the Onondaga 
lake ; the Cayugas, on the Cayuga lake ; and the Senecas, whose 
territory in the State of New York comprehended all that part of 
the State which lies west of the Seneca lake, and which is denomi- 
nated " the Genesee country." This name, or rather Geneseo, as 
it is pronounced by the aborigines, it is said, signified Pleasant 

1 



2 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Valley. In the year 1712, the Tuscaroras, a tribe of Indians 
whose residence was in North Carolina, being driven from their 
possessions by a hostile tribe, emigrated northward, and were 
hospitably received by the Confederates, and adopted as a sixth 
nation in the confederacy. A territory was given them by the 
Oneidas, adjoining that of the Onondaga tribe. The Six Nations 
anciently constituted a numerous and powerful confederacy. By 
patrimony or right of conquest, they formerly claimed as theirs 
nearly all of the State of New York west of the Hudson river. 
Northward, their possessions extended into Canada; westward, to 
the banks of the Mississippi; and, southward, far into the southern 
States. Many other tribes owned their sway, and paid them tribute. 
By their union among themselves and always acting in concert, 
they were powerful ; and by their ferocious courage in battle they 
were terrible to other hostile tribes, and not unfrequently to the 
European settlers. Their prowess was frequently felt with dread- 
ful severity by the French in Canada, and by the Anglo-Saxons on 
the frontiers of New York, and others of the English colonies in 
America. From this statement it will be perceived that the terri- 
tory to which the subsequent history relates, originally belonged 
to five of the Six Nations, viz. the Oneidas, the Tuscaroras, the 
Onondagas, the Cayugas, and the Senecas. 

Although the Indians were the real proprietors of the soil, yet 
the different States, to a certain extent, claimed a property in the 
lands within certain boundaries, by virtue of original charters from 
the government of Great Britain, which claimed a title to dispose 
of the country, by right of prior discovery. These claims were 
considered as valid, so far, at least, as to entitle the party holding 
the charter, to the exclusion of all others, to purchase the domain 
of the Indians whenever they might be disposed to alienate it, and 
to colonize and exercise civil jurisdiction over the territory when 
purchased of the Indians. But, unfortunately, the charters of the 
different Companies or States conflicted with each other. At the 
period when they were granted by the crown of Great Britain, 
very little was known respecting the localities of the country. It 
was truly in Europe a terra incognita. Hence the boundaries 
which were assigned to the territories included in the respective 
charters were sometimes expressed in such vague terms as to be 
wholly unintelligible ; or what, perhaps, was more frequently the 
case, the same portion of territory was included in different char- 
ters. While the country was very new, the colonists few in num- 
ber, and far the greatest part of the territory was occupied by the 
aboriginal inhabitants, these conflicting claims excited little atten- 
tion. The ownership of the Indians in the lands was by the colo- 
nists acknowledged. The colonists were too few to occupy but a 
small portion of the land included in their respective charters. 
More than they needed for present occupancy they were indis- 



ITS EARLY HISTORY. 



3 



posed to buy of the original owners. Fear of attacks from the 
Indians required that they should settle in compact bodies, and 
contiguous to each other. Hence they concerned themselves little 
about territory at a great distance, although it might be compre- 
hended within the limits of their charter from the King of Great 
Britain. But when the number of inhabitants was greatly in- 
creased, and a much larger share of land needed for settlement, 
controversies concerning title necessarily resulted. This was 
particularly the case after the termination of the war of the Revo- 
lution, and the acknowledgment of our national independence by 
the government of Great Britain. 

The original charters of Massachusetts and Connecticut included 
all the lands within certain parallels running due west from the 
Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. At the same time, the charter of 
New York covered all the land within the present limits of the 
State. That of Massachusetts particularly, covered a very large 
portion of the State of New York. That of Connecticut extended 
over a somewhat smaller territory within the State. It is supposed 
that Massachusetts, previous to the war of the Revolution, acceded 
to the claim of New York respecting jurisdiction and title to that 
portion of the State of New York, bounded east by the present 
dividing line between the States of New York and Massachusetts, 
and west by a line so far west of Hudson river as to include all the 
settlements made by the State of New York previous to the com- 
mencement of the Revolutionary war. As it regards that part of 
the State of New York which is embraced by the original charter 
of Massachusetts, and which lies west of a line which would in- 
clude the settlements made previous to the Revolution, it does not 
appear that an understanding existed between the States. After 
the termination of the war of the Revolution and the circumstances 
of the country permitted the States to attend to their own indivi- 
dual interests, the claim of Massachusetts was revived, as it re- 
spected the right of pre-emption and jurisdiction over Western New 
York. New York resisted this claim. The parties pleaded their 
respective charters, and each considered its own claim valid in 
law and equity, and the matter in controversy of great importance, 
as it related to its own interest and honor. But instead of bringing 
the controversy to issue by an appeal to arms, the very common 
method of deciding disputes between rival States, when the matter 
at issue relates to boundaries, the parties at issue, realizing that 
they were brethren of the same grand confederation, possessing 
common interests, wisely determined to submit the matter at issue 
to Commissioners appointed by the States respectively. These 
Commissioners, so appointed, met at Hartford, in the State of Con- 
necticut, and on the 16th of December, 1786, came to an amicable 
agreement on all the matters in controversy between their respec- 
tive States. The sovereignty and right of jurisdiction over the 



4 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



whole territory were confirmed to New York. To Massachusetts 
was conceded the right of the pre-emption of the soil from the native 
Indians, of all the land within the present limits of the State of 
New York lying west of a line beginning at a point in the north 
line of the State of Pennsylvania, eighty-two miles west from the 
north-east corner of that State, and running due north through the 
Seneca lake, and continued on to Eake Ontario, excepting from the 
above described tract, a territory of one mile in width, the whole 
length of the Niagara river, which was conceded to New York. 
It was also stipulated that Massachusetts should hold the pre-emp- 
tive right to a tract of 230,400 acres, equal to ten townships of six 
miles square each, between the Owego and Chenango rivers. This 
tract was formerly called " The Massachusetts Ten Townships." 
The remainder of the territory in dispute was acknowledged to be 
the property of the State of New York. Thus terminated all con- 
troversy respecting boundaries between these two sister States. 

At an early period, a dispute respecting boundaries arose be- 
tween the States of New York and Connecticut. The territory of 
Connecticut, according to the original charter of that State, ex- 
tended across the eastern part of New York to Pennsylvania, and 
thence west to the Pacific Ocean, including a large portion of the 
State of Pennsylvania, together with a narrow strip of the adjacent 
territory of New York. This controversy was supposed to be 
terminated, in 1733, by an agreement between the two colonies, 
that the dividing line between them should be run parallel to the 
Hudson river, and at the distance of twenty miles from it to the 
east. This agreement, however, seems not to have been con- 
sidered by Connecticut as precluding her claim to lands embraced 
by her charter, and lying west of what were the settled parts of 
New York. To these lands the claim of Connecticut was revived 
in 1750, and an attempt to settle the land, and exercise jurisdiction 
within the limits of Pennsylvania, was attended with very tragical 
consequences. Settlements were also made under the authority 
of the State of Connecticut, within the present limits of the State 
of New York, which called forth strong opposition from the latter 
State, and severe enactments relating to this subject were made by 
its Legislature, in 1796 and in 1798. This controversy was finally 
terminated in 1800, by an agreement between the government of 
the United States and that of the State of Connecticut. In that 
year a law was passed, authorizing the President of the United 
States to release to the State of Connecticut all claim to the soil 
of that tract of 3,300,000 acres of land lying on Lake Erie, within 
the limits of the present State of Ohio, and known as " The West- 
ern Reserve," on condition that the State of Connecticut should 
for ever relinquish all claims of jurisdiction over all other lands 
lying west, north-west, or south-west of the boundary line, agreed 
upon in 1733, between the States of Connecticut and New York, 



ITS EARLY HISTORY. 



5 



as the dividing line between their respective States. In the same 
year, the Legislature of the State of Connecticut accepted of the 
proposition of Congress, and thus renounced all claim to jurisdic- 
tion and ownership in soil to every part of the territory within the 
present limits of the State of New York. This transaction was 
the final termination of all controversies respecting boundaries and 
jurisdiction between the State of New York and sister States, and 
paved the way for the quiet and rapid settlement of her Western 
Wilderness. 

It has already been remarked, that the original inhabitants of 
Western New York, and owners of its soil, were the Indians de- 
nominated " The Six Nations." These, were nearly the sole in- 
habitants, until a period subsequent to the war of the Revolution, 
At this period the country was an unbroken wilderness^ with the 
exception of some small tracts cultivated by the Indians for the 
raising of corn and a few other vegetables, in the vicinity of their 
towns or places of residence. The remainder of the land was 
wholly unoccupied by them, except as a ground for hunting. In 
the war of the Revolution, the Six Nations, with the exception of 
the Oneida tribe, were persuaded to join the British, in opposition 
to the Americans. Their depredations and cruelties inflicted on the 
frontier settlements, were dreadful, of which the massacres at 
Cherry Valley and Wyoming are a terrible specimen. To check 
these invasions, and chastise the Indians, General Sullivan, with a 
considerable body of troops, was sent into their country in the 
summer of ] 774. He proceeded with his army up the Susquehanna 
and Tioga rivers to Newtown (now Elmira), thence to the head of 
Seneca lake, and down the east side of the lake to its termination, 
and across the country by the foot of Canandaigua lake westward 
to Big Tree, on the Genesee river. In his expedition he did all 
that in him lay to distress the Indians, killing them when opportu- 
nity presented, burning their habitations, cutting down their fruit 
trees, and destroying all their fields of corn, and other esculent 
vegetables. In consequence of this infliction of chastisement upon 
the Indians, their subsequent sufferings were very great, and their 
incursions upon the frontier settlements were restrained. 

After peace with Great Britain had been established, and our 
national independence secured, measures were prosecuted to estab- 
lish a lasting peace with the Six Nations of Indians. As commis- 
sioners to negotiate a treaty with the Six Nations, Oliver Woolcot, 
Richard Butler, and Arthur Lee, were appointed by the govern- 
ment of the United States. These Commissioners met the Indians 
at Fort Stanwix, on the Mohawk river, and on the twenty-second 
day of October, 1784, a treaty between the Six Nations and the 
United States was established. By this treaty, perpetual peace 
and amity between the United States and the Six Nations was de- 
clared, and the Six Nations ceded to the United States all their 



6 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



lands west of a line commencing at the mouth of a creek four 
miles east of Niagara, at a place on Lake Ontario, called Johnson's 
Landing, thence running southerly in a direction always four miles 
east of the portage or carrying-path between Lakes Erie and On- 
tario, to the mouth of Buffalo creek, on Lake Erie; thence due 
south to the north boundary of the State of Pennsylvania ; thence 
west to the end of said boundary ; thence south along the west 
boundary of the State of Pennsylvania to the Ohio river. Ac- 
cording to the terms of this treaty, it would seem that the Indian 
title to all the land included in the present county of Chautauque, 
with some of the western parts of the counties of Niagara, Erie, 
and Cattaraugus, was extinguished by this contract, and yet we af- 
terwards find, in a subsequent treaty, this same territory included 
in a sale of land to Robert Morris, with the consent of a commis- 
sioner of the United States. 

In the year 1785, the State of New York, for a consideration of 
$11,500, purchased of the Oneida and Tuscarora tribes a consi- 
derable tract of land, situate between the Unadilla and Chenango 
rivers; and on the twenty-second day of September, 1784, the 
Oneidas sold to the State the remainder of their territory, with the 
exception of a small reservation for their own use ; and small 
tracts previously sold by them to the Stockbridge and Brother- 
town Indians, w r hich tracts were confirmed to those Indians and 
their posterity for ever. The Oneidas also reserved to themselves 
the right of hunting and fishing on all the lands and waters thus 
relinquished, as also the joint occupancy with the whites of small 
tracts of land around Oneida lake, Fish creek, and Oswego 
river, for the purposes of fishing, trading, &c. In consideration 
of the lands thus acquired by this treaty, the State of New York 
paid to the Indians $2000 in cash, $2000 in clothing, and $1000 
in provisions, with $500 additional, for the purpose of building a 
grist-mill on the Oneida reservation. The State also engaged to 
pay the tribe annually for ever the sum of $600. 

On the twelfth day of September, 1788, the Onondaga tribe of 
Indians, by a treaty made with them at Fort Schuyler, sold to the 
State of New York all their lands within the boundaries of the 
State, with the exception of a reservation around the principal vil- 
lage of their tribe. They also reserved to themselves certain 
other privileges, concerning hunting, fishing, and making salt at 
the Salt lake. In consideration of this grant of lands, the State 
paid to the Indians one thousand French crowns in money, and five 
hundred dollars in clothing, and moreover, stipulated to pay to the 
Onondagas and their posterity for ever, the annual sum of five hun- 
dred dollars. This treaty was confirmed two years afterwards, at 
Fort Schuyler, where the tribe was convened, to receive their an- 
nuity, on which occasion the State bestowed on them a gratuity of 
five hundred dollars in addition to their annuity. 



ITS EARLY HISTORY. 



7 



A treaty was concluded at Albany, on the twenty-fifth day of 
February, 1789, between the State of New York and the Cayuga 
tribe of Indians. By this treaty the Indians ceded to the State 
all their lands within the State, with the exception of a reserva- 
tion of one hundred square miles, exclusive of the waters of the 
Cayuga lake, about which this reservation was located. The 
tribe also reserved to themselves the privilege of the eel fishery on 
Seneca river, with a suitable place on the south side of the river, 
for curing their fish. They also reserved to themselves and 
their posterity for ever, the right of fishing and hunting on every 
part of the ceded territory. As a proper consideration for the 
lands thus purchased of the Indians, the State paid them 8590, 
and agreed to pay them on the first day of June ensuing, the fur- 
ther sum of $1,625, and in addition, engaged to pay to them and 
to their posterity for ever, the annual sum of $500. In 1790, this 
treaty was confirmed at Fort Schuyler, on which occasion the 
State made them a gratuity of $1000. 

Thus the Indian title to all the lands in the State of New York 
east of the pre-emption line which constituted the eastern boundary 
of the territory ceded to Massachusetts, was extinguished, with the 
exception of some comparatively small reservations. 

On the twenty-fifth day of July, 1782, the Legislature of the 
State of New York passed a law, setting apart a certain portion of 
its western lands for the payment of military bounties to the soldiers 
of the State who had served in the army for a certain period du- 
ring the war of the Revolution. The tract which was set apart 
for this purpose, is bounded northwardly, by Lake Ontario, Oswego 
river, and Oneida lake ; west, by the east line of the tract ceded 
to Massachusetts ; south, by a line drawn due east from the south- 
ern extremity of Seneca lake ; and east, by a line drawn from the 
most westerly boundary of the Oneida or Tuscarora country, on 
the Oneida lake, through the most westerlv inclination of the west 
bounds of the Oneida or Tuscarora country. This tract, including 
1,680,000 acres of land, has been denominated, " The Military 
Tract," and embraces the present counties of Onondaga, Cayuga, 
Seneca, and Cortland — the greater part of Tompkins, with smaller 
parts of Oswego and Wayne. At the time of the passage of this 
act, the Indian title to the lands in question was unextinguished, 
nor was it until 1788 and 1789, as has already been shown, that 
the soil was purchased of the original proprietors. The Indian 
title being at length extinguished, an act was passed by the Legis- 
lature of the State, Feb. 28th, 1789, for surveying the land and 
appropriating it to the use of the soldiers. In accordance with the 
provisions of this act, the Military Tract was surveyed into twen- 
ty-eight townships, containing each one hundred lots of six hun- 
dred acres. Each private soldier and non-commissioned officer 
of the State troops, had one lot assigned him. The officers re- 



8 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



ceived larger shares in proportion to their rank. The soldiers, in 
many cases, realized very little from this arrangement. Many of 
them, in the long period which elapsed previous to the assignment 
of their lands, and in view of the uncertainties connected with the 
subject, had sold their patents for a mere pittance ; in some in- 
stances, it is said, for a sum not exceeding eight dollars. Many of 
them, however, lived to settle upon their lots, and thus secured to 
themselves a competence in old age. The survey and appropria- 
tion of the Military Tract prepared the way for the speedy settle- 
ment of the lands, and the population rapidly increased. 

It has been already stated in the history of the settlement of the 
controversy between the State of New York and the State of Mas- 
sachusetts, that to Massachusetts was ceded the pre-emptive right 
to all that part of the State which lies west of a meridian drawn 
through the Seneca lake ; also the possession of the tract called 
"The Massachusetts Ten Townships," on the Chenango river. 
Soon after the period of this arrangement, the State of Massachu- 
setts sold the Ten Townships to Samuel Brown, and fifty-nine 
associates, for the sum of $3,333. This transaction paved the way 
for the speedy settlement of the territory. The pre-emptive right 
of the State of Massachusetts to the vast territory west of the me- 
ridian line drawn through the Seneca lake, and containing about six 
millions of acres, was, in 1787. contracted to Oliver Phelps and 
Nathaniel Gorham, citizens of Massachusetts, for the sum of $ 100,- 
000, payable in three instalments.* 

Messrs. Phelps and Gorham, having purchased the pre-emptive 
right to the territory, immediately began to make preparations for 
extinguishing the Indian title to the lands included in the purchase. 
Accordingly in the summer of 1788, Mr. Phelps left Granville, in 
the State of Massachusetts, with men and means proportionate to 
the hazardous undertaking, as it was then supposed to be. Such 
was the apprehension of hazard in this expedition in the minds of 
many of the community, that, it is said, on the setting out of the 
party from Granville, the neighborhood assembled to bid them 
adieu, and, as many of them believed, a final adieu, supposing it 
very improbable that any of them would live to return. And 
though, in the present condition of the country, with the facilities 
for travelling, some may perhaps smile at the idea of danger in 
such an undertaking ; yet, when it is considered that the whole 
country from the Mohawk river westward, was an unbroken 
wilderness, destitute of any white inhabitants, that no roads ex- 

* Some authors, in speaking of the sale of land made by the State of Massachusetts 
to Messrs. Phelps and Gorham, state the sum which these gentlemen agreed to pay 
for the land purchased, at $1,000 ; 000 ; while others state it at $ 100,000. These 
seemingly different statements are reconciled when it is understood that the contract 
was lor £ 300,000, Massachusetts currency, payable in consolidated securities of the 
State, which securities were in actual value worth two shillings in the pound. 



ITS EARLY HISTORY. 



9 



isted except Indian trails, that the country through which they 
must pass (about 130 miles from Herkimer to Canandaigua), was 
in the possession of the Indians, who were jealous of the whites, 
and had mostly, at a late period, been in a state of hostility to 
them, and, especially, that the Senecas with whom they were de- 
sirous to negotiate, and into whose territory they were about to 
enter, were still smarting under the chastisement which they had 
received during Sullivan's expedition into their country — it must 
certainly appear to the reflecting mind that the expedition was 
indeed one of difficulty and danger. Under such circumstances 
the company set off from Granville upon their expedition, attended 
by the good wishes, and, no doubt, by the fervent prayers of, at 
least, some of their friends. In due time they arrived at Canandai- 
gua. accompanied by a commissioner on the part of the State of 
Massachusetts, and Rev. Samuel Kirtland, the Missionary to the 
Six Nations, who was employed as interpreter in the negotiation 
with the Indians. Mr. Phelps speedily succeeded in collecting the 
Indian chiefs and warriors, and a council was held on the banks of 
the Canandaigua lake, when Mr. Phelps made a proposition to 
them respecting the sale of their lands. The subject was debated 
in the council for two or three days, during which period it is 
said that some remarkable specimens of eloquence were exhibited, 
s particularly in the speeches of Red Jacket and Farmer's Brother. 
Red Jacket was decidedly hostile to the sale of any land to the 
white men ; Farmer's Brother, on the contrary, advocated the 
sale. On the third day of the council, which was the eighth day 
of July, 1788, a treaty was concluded, by which a territory, em- 
bracing more than two millions of acres of land, was sold to 
Messrs. Phelps and Gorham. The land purchased on this occa- 
sion is described in the treaty in the following manner, viz. — 
Beginning in the northern boundary line of the State of Pennsyl- 
vania, in the parallel of 42° north, at a point distant eighty-two 
miles from the north-east corner of Pennsylvania, on Delaware 
river ; thence running west upon said line to a meridian passing 
through the point of land made by the confluence of the Shanahas- 
guaikon (or Canaseraga) creek with the waters of the Genesee 
river ; thence north along the said meridian to the point last men- 
tioned ; thence northwardly along the waters of the Genesee 
river to a point two miles north of Canawagus village ; thence 
due west twelve miles ; thence in a direction northwardly 
so as to be twelve miles distant from the most westward bend of 
the Genesee river, to Lake Ontario ; thence eastwardly along the 
said lake to a meridian which will pass through the place of begin- 
ning ; and thence south along the said meridian to the place of 
beginning. This tract was confirmed to Messrs. Phelps and 
Gorham by an act of the Legislature of the State of Massachusetts, 
passed Nov. 21st, 1788, and the whole of the territory to which 



10 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



by this treaty the Indian title w r as not extinguished, was by agree- 
ment between Messrs. Phelps and Gorham and the Legislature of 
Massachusetts, relinquished to Massachusetts, and a proportional 
sum was deducted from the price to be paid for the pre-emptive 
right. 

The title to this vast tract of rich and fertile land being secured 
to Messrs. Phelps and Gorham, these gentlemen speedily began 
the survey of the territory, in order to put it in a situation for 
sale and settlement. The land was surveyed into tracts, denomi- 
nated " Ranges, " by lines running north and south through the 
whole purchase, and these were numbered from east to west. 
These Ranges were designed to be six miles in width. They 
were subdivided by lines running east and west at the distance 
of six miles from each other, into distinct portions, denominated 
" Townships," which were numbered from south to north. The 
Ranges were seven in number, and the Townships in each full 
Range were fourteen. These Townships, to prepare them for 
actual settlers, were mostly subdivided into lots of 160 acres 
each. Mr. Phelps opened a land office at Canandaigua, for the 
sale of lands to actual settlers, and the sale and settlement of the 
country commenced in a prosperous manner. After selling out to 
actual settlers or speculators about one third of the tract to which 
the Indian title had been extinguished, Messrs. Phelps and Gor- 
ham sold nearly all that remained to Robert Morris, being about 
1,264,000 acres. The price of the land was eight pence per acre. 
This sale was made in 1790. Mr. Morris sold his contract to 
Charles Williamson, who conveyed his title to Sir William Pul- 
teney, an English gentleman. Col. Williamson then acted as 
Agent for Sir William Pulteney, to manage the sales of the lands 
to the settlers. To facilitate the sale of the lands, offices were 
established at Geneva and Bath. The property thus sold to Sir 
William Pulteney, has been generally known by the designation 
of " The Pulteney Estate." 

On the 12th day of March, 1791, a committee of the Legislature 
of Massachusetts, by authority from the State, executed a contract 
of sale in the form of an indenture, with Samuel Ogden, by which, 
on behalf of the State of Massachusetts, they covenanted on certain 
conditions to convey to him or his assigns, all the estate and inte- 
rest of that commonwealth in the lands lying in the State of New 
York, west of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, excepting there- 
from one equal undivided sixtieth part of the same. In accord- 
ance with the terms of this contract, the same committee, on the 
eleventh day of May of the same year, conveyed by deed-poll to 
Robert Morris, the assignee of Samuel Ogden, a tract of land con- 
taining about 500,000 acres, extending from the Pennsylvania line 
to Lake Ontario, and bounded on the east by Phelps and Gorham's 
purchase, and on the west by a meridian line drawn from a point 



ITS EARLY HISTORY. 



11 



in the north line of the State of Pennsylvania, twelve miles distant 
from the south-west corner of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and 
extending to the Canada line. This tract was, at a subsequent 
period, by Mr. Morris sold to different individuals or companies 
in separate parcels, and in due time was brought into a state to be 
sold in convenient farms to actual settlers. 

On the same day in which the above named deed was executed, 
the same committee by four separate deeds conveyed to Robert 
Morris, with the approbation of Samuel Ogden, the residue of the 
lands which had been contracted to Ogden. The three first of 
these deeds convey each a separate tract of land, supposed to con- 
tain 800,000 acres, bounded on the south by Pennsylvania line ; 
north by the boundary line between the United States and Cana- 
da ; and east and west by meridian lines, sixteen miles distant 
from each other. The land conveyed by the fourth deed included 
all the residue between the last meridian and the west line of the 
State of New York. In each of these four conveyances there 
was a reservation to the State of Massachusetts of one equal 
undivided sixtieth part, which, at a later period, was also conveyed 
to Mr. Morris. In the three first of these conveyances the con- 
sideration in each instance was £15,000. In the last it was 
£10,000. The currency of Massachusetts, it is supposed, was to 
determine the value of the pound. All the lands included in the 
several tracts comprised in these four deeds, were, at a subsequent 
period, conveyed by Mr. Morris to Trustees for the benefit of a 
company in Holland, and from this circumstance, the tract re- 
ceived the appellation of " The Holland Purchase." It includes 
all that part of the State of New York which lies west of a meri- 
dian line drawn from a point in the south line of the State, distant 
twelve miles west from the south-west corner of Phelps and Gor- 
ham's purchase, and extended north to Lake Ontario, with the 
exception of a narrow strip along the Niagara river. Under the 
Holland Company, through their agents, the land has been surveyed 
into ranges and townships, and divided into convenient lots, the 
greater part of which have been sold to actual settlers. 

The title which Mr. Morris acquired from the State of Massa- 
chusetts to that vast territory included in his deeds of purchase, 
was merely the right of pre-emption. The lands were still the 
property of the Seneca tribe of Indians, and it is pleasing to the 
heart of every good man, that neither the laws of the land, nor the 
common feeling of the community, permitted the Indian to be 
despoiled of his property by force, or driven from his possessions 
without his consent, or without an equivalent. It does not appear 
that Mr. Morris, after having purchased of the State of Massachu- 
setts in 1791, the pre-emptive right, attempted to obtain the ex- 
tinguishment of the Indian title, or, if he did, the attempt must 
have been abortive ; for it seems that the Indian title to the lands 



12 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



in question was not extinguished until 1797. In that year a coun- 
cil of the Indians was held at Big Tree, on the Genesee river, 
near the site of the present village of Geneseo, at which were pre- 
sent Jeremiah Wadsworth, as a Commissioner of the United 
States, and William Shepherd, agent for the State of Massachu- 
setts. By a treaty made on that occasion, the Indians sold to 
Robert Morris all their remaining lands in the State of New 
York, west of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, with the exception 
of the following reservations, viz. — Two square miles at Cana- 
wagus, near Avon ; Two square miles at Big Tree ; Two square 
miles at Little Beard's town ; Two square miles at Squakie Hill ; 
The Gardow reservation on the Genesee river, containing four 
square miles : The Caneadea reservation, extending eight miles 
along the Genesee river, and two miles in breadth ; A reservation 
at Cattaraugus creek and Lake Erie ; Another on the south side 
of Cattaraugus creek ; Also forty-two square miles on the Alle- 
ghany river, where Corn-planter resided ; and two hundred square 
miles, to be laid out partly at Buffalo, and partly at Tonawanda 
creek. The Indians also reserved the right of fishing on every 
part of the ceded territory. 

The reservations of tracts of land named in the preceding treaty 
with the Seneca Indians, together with those which have been 
noticed in the account of treaties with other tribes of the Six 
Nations, have since, at different periods, been sold by the Indians 
to the State of New York, or to persons possessing the right of 
pre-emption, with the exception of two or three small tracts yet 
retained by the original possessors. The comparatively small 
remnants of the different tribes have gone from the land of their 
fathers. Some have removed to the British possessions in Upper 
Canada ,others to the far West, to a territory assigned them by the 
government of the United States, beyond the settlements of white 
men. This territory is twenty-seven miles in width, and about 
one hundred and six in depth, adjacent to, and west of the State 
of Missouri. A few only remain within the State of New York, 
lingering a little longer around their ancient council fires, and the 
graves of their ancestors. Wherever they are, their power is 
gone, their number is small, and their possessions are very limited. 
They are no more a terror to the white man, nor do they exercise 
a despotic sway over their red brethren. Should the chastisement 
of God upon them lead them to acknowledge his hand, and to em- 
brace the Lord Jesus Christ as their only Saviour, as it is believed 
has been the case with a small number of them, they might yet be 
saved from utter extinction, and might yet become a happy com- 
munity, rejoicing in the possession of the arts of civilized life, and 
the glorious hopes of the gospel of the Son of God. Christians 
should bear them on their minds, and labor for their conversion 
and salvation. 



13 



CHAPTER II. 

The Genesee County Settled at an earlier period than the Military Tract : Reasons 
for this Commencement of Settlement on Phelps and Gorham's Purchase. Or- 
ganization of Ontario County. Settlement of the Military Tract. Settlement of 
the Territory west of the Genesee river. Rapidity of Settlement; Causes for it. 
Some Hindrances, Sickness, Disturbance with the Indians. Treaty between the 
United States and the Six Nations. Construction of Roads. State Road from 
Utica to Genesee river. First Stage from Utica westward. Road from Genesee 
river to Buffalo. Ridge Road from Rochester to Lewiston. Some other Roads. 
Cayuga Bridge. Erie Canal. Railroads. Civil Divisions of Western New York. 
Notice of Whitestown, Geneseo, Northampton. Table respecting the Progress of 
Population. 

In the preceding chapter we have narrated the preliminary 
measures, which prepared the way for the immediate actual settle- 
ment of Western New York, with the exception of that part of the 
territory which lies south of the Military Tract, and includes the 
counties of Broome, Tioga, and Chemung, and a part of the county 
of Tompkins. 

The settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, called the 
Genesee country, commenced somewhat earlier, and progressed 
with greater rapidity, at least for a season, than the settlement of 
the Military Tract. The Indian title to this purchose was ex- 
tinguished on the eighth day of July, 1788, whereas the extinguish- 
ment of the Indian title to the Military Tract was not completed 
till a period somewhat later. The regular settlement of the Mili- 
tary Tract could not commence till the whole territory had been 
surveyed into townships and lots, and these lots assigned to the 
officers and soldiers of the army who were entitled to them. On 
the contrary, the lands of Messrs. Phelps and Gorham required 
them to bring on settlers and dispose of their lands as speedily as 
possible. No person possessed such a personal interest in the set- 
tlement of the Military Tract. That portion of the United States, 
which was best prepared and most ready to furnish emigrants to a 
new country, was the States of Massachusetts and Connecticut. 
Mr. Phelps was a native of Connecticut, and extensively acquainted 
with its inhabitants ; but, at the time of his purchase, was a citizen 
of Massachusetts. Mr. Gorham was a native and citizen of Mas- 
sachusetts. The influence of these men would naturally be effica- 
cious in bringing on to their lands settlers from those states. The 
title to the lands of Messrs. Phelps and Gorham was indisputable, 
being established to them by the highest authority ; whereas, as it 



14 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



respects the Military lands, the different lots had been assigned to 
different individuals, many of whom were dead, and others had 
sold their rights to speculators ; and in many instances the same 
individual had repeatedly sold his right. Hence, in a variety of 
cases, the same lot was claimed by different individuals, and a 
long course of litigation ensued before the title to the land was es- 
tablished. Should an emigrant to Phelps and Gorham's purchase 
find a location satisfactory to him, he could go direct to Canan- 
daigua to the land office, and make his purchase, and take his deed ; 
but the individual who should discover a desirable location on the 
Military Tract, if he wished to purchase it, must first ascertain who 
was the owner, then where he lived ; and having ascertained these 
facts, might still be utterly uncertain whether the owner would 
sell, or, if he would, on what terms. Again, the idea was preva- 
lent in the Eastern States, from which the great mass of the new 
settlers in Western New York emigrated, that the Genesee lands 
were of a quality superior to those of the Military Tract. For 
these reasons the regular settlement of the Genesee country com- 
menced somewhat earlier, and for a season, at least, progressed 
with a greater rapidity than that of the Military Tract. 

The Indian title to Phelps and Gorham's purchase was not ex- 
tinguished till July, 1788 ; but in the same year it is narrated, that 
Peter Shaffer settled at the place where Scotsville now stands ; 
that he was the first white man who settled on the Genesee river, 
and that not more than four or five families lived on the road be- 
tween him and Utica. It is probable that the settlement of Geneva 
commenced the same year. In the spring of 1789, six or seven 
families resided in the village, or its immediate vicinity, among 
whom were Colonel Reed, Roger Noble and family, of Sheffield 
(Mass.), and Asa Ransom. About the same period the settlement 
of Canandaigua, then called Kanadarque, was commenced. In 
the spring of 1789, Augustus Porter, Esq., came on to Canandaigua 
with a party, in the capacity of a surveyor. He found at Canan- 
daigua General Chapin, Daniel Gates, Joseph Smith, Indian In- 
spector, Benjamin Gardiner and family, Benjamin Saxton, sur- 
veyor, and a few others, all of whom, except Messrs. Smith and 
Gardiner, had come on a few days before with General Chapin. 
The parties with General Chapin and Judge Porter, came with 
their effects, in boats, from Schenectady up the Mohawk river, to 
Fort Stanwix, then by Wood creek, Oneida lake, &c, to the out- 
let of Canandaigua lake. The only houses at Canandaigua at this 
period were four log buildings. The same spring, a man by the 
name of Adams, from Alford (Mass.), with his large family, con- 
sisting of his sons, Jonathan, John, William, Abner, and Joseph ; his 
sons-in-law, Ephraim Rew, and Lorin Hull, with their wives. 
Elijah Rose, a brother-in-law to Mr. Adams, and Moses Gunn, 
Lot Rew, John Barnes, Roger Sprague, Asa Heacock, Benjamin 



ITS EARLY HISTORY. 



15 



Gauss, John Keyes, Nathaniel Norton, and Eber Norton, com- 
menced the settlement of East Bloomfield. Judge Porter says : 
" From the time we left Fort Stanwix, until we arrived at Kana- 
dasaga (Geneva), we found no white persons, except at the junc- 
tion of Canada and Wood creeks, where a man lived by the name 
of Armstrong ; at Three River Point, where lived a Mr. Bingham, 
and at Seneca Falls, where was Job Smith." In 1782, Colonel 
Peregreen Gardiner located his family at West Bloomfield, on the 
main road which leads from Canandaigua to Buffalo. Gen. Amos 
Hall, Ebenezer Curtis, Esq., and others, came in soon after him. 
In the same year, the settlement of the town of Middlesex com- 
menced, and about the same period, Messrs. James and William 
Wadsworth commenced the settlement of Geneseo. 

In the month of August, 1789, the present township of Pittsford 
was purchased of Mr. Phelps by Israel Stone, Simon Stone, and 
Seth Dodge, of Salem, Washington county, for the sum of three 
thousand dollars. They came on in the autumn of the same year, 
surveyed the township into lots, and having sowed a few acres with 
wheat, returned for the purpose of removing their families the en- 
suing spring. Previous to their return, they provided themselves 
with a chest of carpenters' tools, and a quantity of iron, which they 
obtained from a boat lying in Irondequoit Bay, which, for safe 
keeping until needed, were carefully buried in the ground. In 
April, 1790, the Messrs. Stone and Jasiel Farr started with their 
families to take possession of their new home in the wilderness, 
availing themselves by a circuitous route of water communication 
most of the way, for their families and effects. On their departure 
from Salem, they intrusted a small drove of cattle, horses, and 
swine, to a hired man and two lads, who were to find their way 
as they might be able, to the little opening in the forest, which had 
been made the preceding autumn. This party arrived at the place 
assigned more than two weeks before the arrival of the families, 
subsisting, in the meantime, on pounded corn, and milk which the 
cows supplied. One of these lads was Nathan Nye, now an old 
and respectable inhabitant of Pittsford. During the same season, 
Glover Perrin, with his family, moved into what is now the town 
of Perrinton, a name derived from him. The same season, Enos 
Stone and family, two families of the name of Hyde, and another * 
of the name of Scudder, settled within the limits of the present 
town of Brighton. These eight families, for a season, constituted 
the entire white population of the original town of Northfield, 
which embraced all the territory now included in the towns of 
Pittsford, Perrinton, Penfield, Webster, Henrietta, Brighton, Iron- 
dequoit, and that part of the city of Rochester which lies east of 
the Genesee river. 

Capt. Peter Pitts, with his family, commenced the settlement of 
the town of Richmond in 1790 ; and in the same year the settle- 



16 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



ment of the towns of Bristol, Victor, and some others was com- 
menced. In 1731, the settlement of the town of Naples was 
begun by a company from the county of Berkshire (Mass.). In 
the same year, William Hincher located his family at the mouth of 
Genesee river. In 1792, the settlement of the village of Bath was 
commenced by Col. Charles Williamson, the purchaser of what has 
since been called the " Pulteney Estate." As a specimen of some of 
the difficulties of the settlement of a new country, it may be remark- 
ed, that Col. Williamson, for the support of his establishment, was 
under the necessity of transporting his flour from Northumberland, 
in Pennsylvania, and pork from Philadelphia. 

In the month of July, 1790, the census of the county of Ontario, 
which, at that period, included the whole of the Genesee country, 
was taken by Gen. Amos Hall, in accordance with the constitution 
of the United States ; and for the reader's information, we will 
give the author's table of the then existing population entire. The 
towns are designated by their present names. The first column 
denotes the number of families, and the second the number of per- 
sons in each town. 



Painted Post, 

Milo, 

Benton, 

Seneca, includ- 
ing Geneva, 
Phelps, 
Middlesex, 
Hopewell, 
East Farmington, 
West Farming- 
ton, 
Canandaigua, 
West Palmyra, 
South Bristol, 
North Bristol, 
East Bloomfield, 
West Bloomfield, 



10 


59 


11 


65 


3 


25 


18 


115 


2 


11 


7 


38 


6 


14 


o 


4 


12 


55 


18 


106 


4 


14 


4 


20 


4 


13 


10 


65 


7 


26 



Victor, 


4 


20 


Richmond, 


1 


2 


Mendon, 


2 


10 


Pittsford, 


8 


28 


Brighton, 


4 


20 


Lima, 


4 


23 


Rush, 


9 


56 


Henrietta, 


1 


8 


Sparta, 
Geneseo, 


1 


5 


8 


34 


Wayne, 


1 


9 


Erwin, 


11 


59 


Canisteo, 


10 


50 


Avon, 


10 


66 


Caledonia, 


10 


44 


Indian lands, Lei- 




17 


cester, 





205 1081 



From the period in which this census was taken, the settlement 
of the country progressed with great rapidity. 

The settlement of the Military Tract was of a date somewhat 
later than that of Phelps' and Gorham's purchase. Some few 
families, however, might have removed on to the tract, nearly as 
soon as any on the Purchase. In the spring of 1783, Roswell 
Franklin, with his family, settled themselves near where the village 



ITS EARLY HISTORY. 



17 



of Aurora now stands. They removed from Wysox, in Pennsyl- 
vania. They came up the Susquehanna and Tioga rivers, by 
boat, to Newtown (now Elmira), thence by land to the head of 
the Seneca lake ; thence, by boat, down the Seneca lake and river 
to the Cayuga lake, and up that lake to their place of settlement. 
On their passage, and in their early settlement in the country, they 
suffered great privations and hardships. They were the first 
white family in the region. A traveller, in 1792, remarks, that 
from Onondaga Hollow to the Cayuga lake, the whole country 
was in forest, and that in the township of Marcellus he met with 
only one house, and two newly erected huts. It is evident that at 
that time the settlement of the country had commenced, and from 
that period made rapid progress. That part of the tract which is 
situate between the Cayuga and Seneca lakes, was settled at an 
early date ; principally by emigrants from Pennsylvania and 
New Jersey. 

The settlement of the territory west of the Genesee river, was 
of a still later date. In the year 1801, this whole region consti- 
tuted but one town, containing, perhaps, fifty families. The greater 
part of these were located at the Lower Falls, on the Genesee 
river, where the town-meetings were held. The remainder resided 
at Caledonia and Leroy, with a very few families on the Niagara 
river, at Fort Slosser. A mail was at that period carried on horse- 
back from Canandaigua to Fort Slosser, through this town, once a 
week and back. The carrier of the mail was under the necessity 
of putting up over night in the Indian village of Tonawanda, there 
being no other inhabited place betw r een Ganson's settlement in 
Leroy and Fort Slosser. From about this period, the settlement 
of this section of Western New York progressed with great 
rapidity. 

The rapidity of the settlement of Western New York, and the 
uninterrupted prosperity attending it, constitute a circumstance 
which finds no parallel in the previous history of new settlements. 
Formerly, new regions were ordinarily settled at great expense to 
the government or to the individuals, in a very slow and gradual 
manner, and almost always with the loss of many lives by the in- 
cursion of hostile foes. How many new settlements have, after a 
long period of toil and suffering, and the loss of many valuable 
lives, been entirely broken up by these circumstances 1 The set- 
tlement of Western New York has not been wholly exempt from 
these trials. The first settlers of the Genesee country, in coming 
to their places of settlement, had to transport themselves, their 
families, effects, and provisions, from Fort Schuyler (now Utica) 
through an almost unbroken wilderness, with no path better than 
an Indian trail, to the places of their settlement. When arrived at 
their stations, all their supplies of provisions, clothing, and what- 
ever else was needed, must be derived from the country on the 

2 



18 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Mohawk river, until they could raise them on their own farms. 
When they had succeeded in raising their own bread-stuff, mills 
for grinding it were at a great distance. These obstacles, how- 
ever, were speedily overcome. Sickness in the early period of the 
settlement greatly prevailed. The common disorders prevalent 
were fevers, and ague and fever. The seasons of 1793 and 1794 
were very sickly seasons. "At one time," says Dr. Coventry, " in 
the village of Geneva, there was but a single individual who could 
leave her bed, and she, like a ministering angel, went from house to 
house, bestowing on the sick the greatest of all boons, — a drink of 
cold water." 

At one period, particularly in the summer of 1794, the white 
inhabitants felt alarmed in view of some hostile demonstrations on 
the part of the Seneca Indians. These Indians were not satisfied 
that the whites should settle so near them. They complained that 
they had been cheated in the sale of their land, and were undoubt- 
edly still exasperated in the recollection of the severe chastisement 
which they had received, by the expedition of General Sullivan 
into their country. They manifested a strong feeling of hostility, 
and used threatening language towards the white settlers. In this 
crisis a council of the Indians was convoked at Canandaigua by the 
government of the United States, in the month of November, 1794. 
Some of the Indians on their way to the council told the white 
people, that, on their return, if their grievances were not redressed, 
they should take off the scalps of the whites. At this council the 
Six Nations were represented. Timothy Pickering appeared as 
commissioner from the government of the United States. On the 
eleventh day of November, a treaty was concluded between the 
United States and the Six Nations. By this treaty the United 
States acknowledged the lands reserved to the Oneida, Cayuga, 
and Onondaga Nations, in their several treaties with the State of 
New York, to be the property of the said Nations, and that the 
United States will never claim these reservations, nor disturb the 
Indians nor their friends in the possession and enjoyment of them. 
They also acknowledged that all the lands included within the State 
of New York, lying west of the west line of Phelps and Gorham's 
Purchase, with the exception of a small territory on the Niagara 
river, belonged to the Seneca nation of Indians, and they engaged 
never to disturb that tribe, nor any of the Six Nations, in the quiet 
possession of the same. 

The Six Nations on their part agreed never to claim any other 
lands within the limits of the United States, nor to molest the peo- 
ple of the United States in any manner. They also ceded to the 
United States the privilege of making roads through their lands, 
and of navigating the rivers, occupying the harbors, landing-places, 
&c. 

In consideration of the peace and friendship thus established, and 



ITS EARLY HISTORY. 



19 



the engagements entered into by the Six Nations, and with a view 
to render the peace perpetual, the United States delivered to the 
Six Nations 810,000 worth of goods, and contracted to pay them 
annually the sum of $4,500, to be expended for their benefit, under 
the direction of a superintendent, to be appointed by the President 
of the United States. 

The establishment of this treaty calmed the hostile feelings 
of the Indians, and completely removed the fears of the white 
inhabitants. From this period no serious trouble with the Indians 
existed, nor was the settlement of the country at all retarded through 
fear of Indian hostility. It would seem, however, that the spirit of 
revenge for the chastisement inflicted upon them in Sullivan's ex- 
pedition was never wholly eradicated from their breasts, for at 
subsequent periods many of the Senecas were found fighting against 
the United States, in the battles of Harmer, St. Clair, Wayne, and 
Harrison at Tippecanoe. 

Another circumstance which greatly facilitated the settlement of 
the country was the construction of roads. The paths by which 
the first inhabitants came into the country were mere Indian trails. 
Often they were obliged to stop in their progress for hours to con- 
struct a temporary bridge to enable them to cross a stream of 
water. It was also necessary that they should travel in consider- 
able companies for the purpose of mutual assistance in crossing 
streams, passing swamps, and rising hills, such was the state of the 
road when the settlement of the country commenced. But in 
March, 1794, three commissioners were appointed to lay out a 
road, authorized by law, from Utica, by Cayuga Ferry and Canan- 
daigua, to the Genesee river at Avon ; the road to be as straight as 
practicable, and to be six rods wide. To aid in the construction 
of this road, the legislature granted $1500 from the proceeds of the 
military lands, to be expended on that part of the road which was 
situated on those lands ; and $3750 to be appropriated to the re- 
mainder of the road— one-half to be expended on that part of the 
road which lay eastward of the Military Tract, and the other half 
on that part which lay west. This road, for many years after its 
construction, was called the State Road. The construction of this 
road greatly facilitated the settlement of Western New York. 
Col. Williamson remarks : — " This line of road having been esta- 
blished by law, not less than fifty families settled upon it in the 
space of four months after it was opened. Though this road was 
probably laid out in 1794, it seems not to have been constructed 
for some time, for in June, 1797, Col. Williamson represents the 
road from Fort Schuyler to the Genesee as but little better than an 
Indian trail. It was, however, so far improved subsequently, that 
on the 30th day of September, 1799, a stage started from Utica 
and arrived at Genesee in the afternoon of the third day, and from 
that period, it is believed that a regular stage has passed between 



20 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



those two places. In the year 1800, a law was enacted by the 
Legislature of the State for making this road a turnpike road. The 
work of construction was commenced without delay, and com- 
pleted in a short time. 

In 1800, a road was made from the Genesee river, at Avon, to 
Ganson's Settlement (now Leroy), and the same year a road was 
commenced from Buffalo eastward, and three miles of it completed, 
to connect with the one from Avon to Ganson's Settlement, and 
thus constitute one continuous road from Utica to Buffalo. At 
subsequent periods some other principal lines of roads in Western 
New York have been laid out in accordance with special acts of 
the Legislature, generally, however, at the expense of the counties 
through which they were constructed. As late as 1813, the Legis- 
lature granted the sum of $5000 for cutting the path and making 
bridges across the streams on the Ridge road from Rochester to 
Lewiston. Until this period the road was nearly impassable. 

Roads, in some instances, at a very early date, were constructed 
by the large landholders, for the purpose of facilitating the sale and 
settlement of their lands. Several such roads were constructed by 
Col. Williamson and his successors, the Agents of the Pulteney 
Estate. 

In the month of May, 1799, the Manhattan Company of New 
York commenced the building of a bridge across the Cayuga lake, 
and completed it in September of the following year, at an expense 
of $150,000. Its length was a mile and a quarter, being the long- 
est bridge in the United States ; and yet, five years previous to its 
commencement, the land from w r hich it was built was a forest in 
the possession of the Indians. 

At later periods, the construction of the Erie Canal, with its 
lateral branches opening to all parts of Western New York a mar- 
ket for its productions ; the building of railroads, affording to tra- 
vellers the means of more convenient and rapid communication ; 
and the erection of manufacturing establishments of various descrip- 
tions, and in immense numbers — have all been instrumental in 
increasing the population of Western New York in an unexampled 
degree. Through the good providence of Almighty God, an almost 
uninterrupted scene of prosperity has attended the enterprise of 
emigrants to this region of country ; and, comparing their history 
with that of preceding attempts to colonize new r countries, w r e may 
truly adopt the language of the inspired writer with respect to 
God's dealings with Israel and say, " He hath not dealt so with any 
nation." 

A brief notice of the civil divisions of the country will, to a con- 
siderable extent, exhibit the progress of population and improve- 
ment in Western New York. Previous to the year 1789, the 
county of Montgomery included all the western part of the State 
of New York. In that year Ontario was erected into a county, 



ITS EARLY HISTORY. 21 

comprehending all that part of the State lying west of the Pre- 
emption line. From this county Steuben was detached and orga- 
nized into a separate county in 1796. The limits of this county 
remain the same as when organized, with the exception that the 
towns of Barrington and Starkey, with part of the town of Jerusa- 
lem, have been detached from it and connected with the county of 
Yates ; also one tier of towns taken from the west side and attached 
to the county of Alleghany, with one quarter of a township, in- 
cluding the village of Dansville, connected with the county of 
Livingston. The county of Genesee, comprehending, at the time 
of its organization, all the territory lying west of the Genesee river 
and the west boundary of the county of Steuben, was erected in 
1802. Alleghany with its present limits was detached from Gene- 
see and Steuben, in 1806 ; and Chatauqua, Niagara, and Cattarau- 
gus, in 1808. Monroe was formed from Ontario and Genesee in 
1821, and in the same year the county of Erie was taken from the 
south part of Niagara. In 1823, the county of Livingstone was 
erected from parts of Ontario and Genesee. In 1823, the county 
of Yates was formed from parts of Ontario and Steuben, and the 
county of Wayne from Ontario and Seneca. In 1824, the county 
of Orleans was constituted from the north part of Genesee, and, in 
1841, Wyoming, from its southern part. 

In the year 1791, the counties of Herkimer and Tioga were de- 
tached from the county of Montgomery, and constituted separate 
counties. They included all the territory east of Ontario county 
to a great distance. The county of Onondaga, including the whole 
Military Tract, was set off from Herkimer, in 1794. From Onon- 
daga, Cayuga was detached, in 1799 ; and Cortland, in 1808. From 
Cayuga, Seneca was formed into a county, in 1804; and from 
Cayuga, Tioga, and Seneca, Tompkins was set off, in 1817. From 
Herkimer and Tioga, Chenango was, in 1798, erected into a county, 
and from Chenango, Madison, in 1806. Broome was detached from 
Tioga in 1806, and Chemung in 1836. 

The changes which have taken place in the limits of some of the 
towns of Western New York, since their original organization, are 
illustrative of the progress and amount of improvement, and a pass- 
ing notice of them may be amusing, at least, to some of the rising 
generation. In the year 1788, less than sixty years since, the town 
of German Flatts, in the county of Montgomery, was divided, and 
by an act of the Legislature, a new town was erected, and named 
Whitestown, from the Honorable Hugh White, who was the first 
white settler in the town. This town at its organization compre- 
hended all the territory included in the present counties of St. 
Lawrence, Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida, Madison, Chenango, Broome, 
and those which lie west to the extreme part of the State. At 
its organization the town contained, exclusive of Indians, less than 
two hundred inhabitants. By a succession of subdivisions, this town 



22 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



is reduced to an area of about eight miles by five. The town of 
Geneseo, which at its organization embraced all that part of the 
State which lies west of the Pre-emption line, is now reduced to a 
territory of six miles square, being Township No. 9 in the seventh 
Range of Townships in Phelps and Gorham's Purchase. In 1811, 
all that part of the State which lies west of the Genesee river and 
the county of Steuben, constituted a town by the name of North- 
ampton (since changed to Gates by an act of the Legislature in 
1812), now occupying a small territory adjoining the city of Roches- 
ter on the west. 

The changes in the civil divisions of a country like that of the 
United States, must always be the result of necessity, and must 
therefore, in a great degree, constitute an infallible index of its pro- 
gress in population and improvements. The state of the popula- 
tion of Western New York in 1800, and its progressive increase 
from that period to a late period, may be seen with great accuracy 
from the annexed Table. 



ITS EARLY HISTORY. 



Allegany. 

Broome. 

Cattaraugus. 

Cayuga. 

Chautauque. 

Chemung. 

Chenango. 

Cortland. 

Erie. 

Genesee. 

Livingston. 

Madison. 

Monroe. 

Niagara. 

Onondaga. 

Ontario. 

Orleans. 

Seneca. 

Steuben. 

Tioga. 

Tompkins. 

Wayne. 

Yates. 

Wyoming. 

Total 


Counties 


O0OOQOO0~J~aOOOO~5~a00O00OO0O0O0O0-JO0O0~JOOGOO0 
iMSKJHCOCOOtSIXKOOWOtSOtSOffiWOtOOOO 


Organ- 
ized. 


| 62,888 


15,871 
15,666 

7,466 
15,218 

1,788 
6,879 


1800. 


| 219,803 


1,942 
8,130 
458 
29,843 
2,381 

21,704 
8,869 

12,588 

25,144 

8,971 
25,987 
42,032 

16,609 
7,246 
7,899 


1810. 


| 507,234 


K) m ts bO 00 ^ tO tO W h tn (-"CO l- 1 CO h-> 

oo)m w po to ps to po po ps j- 1 p^po^^co 
"bs'co^coos ta^oooto*>o t*to to'boooo'bo 

00- IO0t-' OS OS CO Ot O 4^ CO O t— OS CO CO i-f^ 00 

1- i h- CO CO •J^OCHOO^W -J Ox oo^o wo 


1820. 


| 716,775 


MCOWUJWbOM^OTM^wbOOtWtOW W ^ m m bi 
JO p3 OS CO h-> pOjD 00 00,50 CO px 00 »4 4^- OS -J OS 
b Ox Ox^J ~CO O h "cO Ik "OO O 'CO^JI Os"!^ OS ~CO "^3 or ~t0 
mOt^O-5W^J03-JC005WmCOOCDO Ot bO 00 w 
COOx^^C^MW^^CnUl^CObiOW^ -5-JOStOOO 


1830. 


| 898,376 


tOt04^Wt04^tOt04^0SWOS4^00t>0 05 t04^t04^0xtOt04^ 
^p^jjppS4i.OxtOjJ ^ O p p> ^ O p> ^1 O 00 tO O 

^^^^Ox^^^0x^^^0^^^^^^1olo^^"c0 
05WO<^bOW^tOOMWOOiMOO)OOOWvlW-3W»J 
Wv]^00^00i^^MMU)b000O^&^0i|iSt«00b000t« 


1840. 


| 934,436 


tOt£4^tOtOOxtOt04^^00^4^CWt0^tOOOt04i-£>-OOt04^ 
p ^ a to m ^ p p p ^ p p W O0 00 CO W C5 CD O Oi 0 
^^ox^^as^bo^^^b»^^b»^o^^ox^^^"o 

O'J'-'OJOi^-l^CO^l&COCOCOAWOOOOO^ffiOlOOO 
»<I05 00roCDUiOitiC«OCO«5WC^OtMOCCOOWCOai^ 


1845. 



24 



CHAPTER III. 

Settlers in Western New York : their Origin. Motives for Emigrating. Character; 
Obstacles to the speedy establishment of Religious Institutions. First Organization 
of a Congregational Church, and Administration of the Lord's Supper. Rev. 
Zadoc Hunn, his Death and Character. Church organized in Palmyra: in Oquago: 
at Sherburne: at Newtown: at Charlestown : at Geneseo : at East Bloomfield : 
South Bristol: North Bristol: West Bloomfield: Victor: Canandaigua : Middle- 
town: Pittstown : Augusta. Manner of Organization: Confession of Faith and 
Covenant. Settlement of Rev. John Rolph at South Bristol ; Rev. Reuben Par- 
mele at Victor; Rev Timothy Field Ordained and Settled at Canandaigua: Rev. 
Joseph Grover Settled at North Bristol: Rev. Eleazer Fairbanks at Palmyra: 
Rev. Jedidiah Chapman at Geneva, a Standing Missionary: Rev. John Lindsley 
at Ovid : Rev. James H. Hotchkin at West Bloomfield : Rev Ahijah Warren at 
South Bristol. Harmony between Congregationalists and Presbyterians. Circum- 
stances contributing to the Formation of Churches and Settlement of Ministers. 
Missionaries. Revival. Dr. Williston's Letter. Mr. Bushnell's Letter. Means 
used to promote the Revival : its Character and Results. Ontario Association. 

The first emigrants to Western New York were from different 
parts of the United States ; but mostly from New England. Those 
who were from the same neighborhood, frequently located them- 
selves together in the same township. Not unfrequently, however, 
the case was otherwise. In the same vicinity were found people 
from different parts of the country. Emigrants from Connecticut 
intermingled with emigrants from Massachusetts and other New 
England States, were found in the same neighborhood. Not unfre- 
quently, emigrants from the New England States, and emigrants 
from New Jersey and Pennsylvania, located themselves side by 
side. A few from States south of Pennsylvania, and some from 
Europe, were among the early settlers of Western New York. 
The first inhabitants were of English, Low Dutch, German, Scotch, 
and Irish origin. But in most places, the New England character 
was the prevalent trait. In consequence, however, of the inter- 
mixture of emigrants from different parts of the country, there was 
in many places a great diversity in their habits, tastes, and modes 
of thinking on a variety of subjects, and especially on the subject 
of religion and religious institutions. This circumstance in many 
places prevented the establishment of any religious worship and 
order for a long period. Again, the first settlers of Western New 
York were dispersed over an extensive territory, and few of them 
for a considerable season were to be found in anyone place, located 
together. In the early settlement of New England, fear of the 
Indians obliged the first inhabitants of a town to locate themselves 
in a compact village, with suitable fortified houses for their defence 
against their savage foes. The same circumstance required that 



THE EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF WESTERN NEW YORK. 25 



they should, when settling a new township, emigrate in consider- 
able numbers at the same time. Hence it was not uncommon in 
the settlement of a new township in the New England States, for 
the clergyman to constitute one of the company, and for religious 
order and stated preaching of the Gospel to commence with the 
settlement of the town. But the circumstances under which 
Western New York was first settled, were vastly different. A 
treaty had been made with the Indians, which it was supposed 
would ensure safety to the settlers. A vast tract of wild land lay 
before them, on any part of which they might locate themselves. 
Diversity of soil and timber, and adaptedness to different branches 
of husbandry existed. Contiguity to roads, streams of water, 
places where water-power might be employed, and where centres 
for business might be expected to be formed, constituted attractions 
to different individuals, according to their respective tastes, or cal- 
culations respecting their employments. Hence, for a considerable 
period after the commencement of the settlement, but few families 
were to be found in any one neighborhood. In many instances a 
single family lived at a distance of some miles from any other family 
for a year or two. Under these circumstances, it was not practi- 
cable to form religious societies, and congregations for divine 
worship, in most places, for a considerable period. 

Emigrants to Western New York were generally drawn thither 
by a regard to taaipora^ circumstances. They were not like the 
original emigrants to New England, fleeing from persecution, and 
seeking a place where they might worship God according to the 
dictates of their own consciences, without molestation. It was not 
a missionary enterprise to civilize and christianize the aborigines 
of the country. But the great object with them, was to improve 
their temporal circumstances. Land of an excellent quality might 
be obtained at a very cheap rate. Those who had property ex- 
pected to increase their property, by occupying larger and more 
fertile farms, by speculating in new lands, or by engaging in some 
employment of enterprise which the circumstances of a growing 
country might make lucrative. Those who had little property to 
bring with them, believed that where land was cheap they should 
be able to procure for themselves farms, which by industry, in the 
course of a few years, would place them in comfortable, if not in 
affluent circumstances. Mechanics not finding sufficient employ- 
ment in the older settlements emigrated to the new country, in hope 
of full employment, and generally with a view of adding" the busi- 
ness of a farm to their mechanic employment. Some undoubtedly 
were moved by a spirit of romance to engage in the hardships and 
novelties connected with the settlement of a new and distant country ; 
and some, in removing to this western region, plainly manifested 
from their manner of life after their removal, that one principal 
object in their removal was to get rid of the restraints which civil 




/ 



26 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



law and public sentiment, connected with religious institutions, 
imposed upon them in the Eastern States from which they emi- 
grated. 

The first settlers of a new country, when their removal is volun- 
tary, are, as a matter of course, possessed of an enterprising character. 
This was peculiarly the character of the first emigrants to Western 
New York. It was a great enterprise in which they were engaged, 
holding forth brilliant prospects for the time which was to come. 
But the realization of these prospects was to be the result of toil, 
the endurance of hardships and privations, and the exposure to 
many dangers and sufferings. Those who could look all these 
circumstances in the face, and go forward with confidence, must 
possess a character for enterprise. They were also, in general, an 
intelligent community. They were, as has been stated, mostly 
from New England, particularly from the States of Massachusetts 
•and Connecticut. Some of them were liberally educated in the 
institutions of New England. Most of them possessed the intelli- 
gence, and had received the common school education, which w T as 
general in Connecticut and Massachusetts at that period. In intel- 
gence and general information they were a fair specimen of the 
race from which they derived their origin. As to their religious 
character, there were many who were openly irreligious ; and 
this was the case with a considerable number who were of some 
influence in civil society, and who wished to break down the insti- 
tutions of Christianity in the community. The settlement of West- 
ern New York was coeval with the French Revolution, and the 
reign of infidelity in that unhappy country. French principles, 
including the most rank infidelity and atheism, were zealously pub- 
lished in the United States, and embraced by vast multitudes 
throughout the land. The deluge of infidelity threatened to sub- 
vert all religious institutions in the nation. Some who were deeply 
imbued with these principles, were among the first settlers of 
Western New York, and were zealous in propagating their senti- 
ments ; or, at least, frequent in throwing out sneers against the 
Bible and its doctrines, or against ministers of the Gospel and pro- 
fessing Christians. But a much larger proportion of the first white 
inhabitants of Western New York were not of this class. True, 
many of them were thoughtless on the subject of religion, immersed 
in the concerns of this life, and regardless of the institutions of the 
Gospel ; though they would acknowledge a belief in the reality and 
importance of Christianity, and the necessity of an experimental 
acquaintance with it, in order to final salvation. Others, having 
been educated in the regular habits of the New England States, 
and accustomed from their earlier years to an attendance at the 
house of God on the Sabbath, if they were not truly pious, yet had 
such a conviction of the reality and importance of religion, as to 
lead them to feel a strong desire to enjoy the stated preaching of 



ITS EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



27 



the Gospel, and to improve the occasional opportunities afforded 
them by itinerating missionaries to hear the Word of God dispensed. 
They wished to see the institutions of the Gospel established, and 
in operation, as they had been accustomed to them in the places 
from which they had emigrated. They desired that their children 
might be trained up under the influence of religious institutions. 
Others were professors of religion, members of churches in the 
places from which they emigrated ; and though some of them 
seemed to leave their religion behind them in their removal, and to 
cast off the fear of God ; yet a goodly number of them came to 
their places of location with a determination, that as for them and 
their houses, they would serve the Lord. They loved the house 
of God, and the institutions of the Gospel, and an opportunity to 
hear the Word preached by an itinerating missionary, was to them 
a feast of fat things. At any time were they ready with their 
families, to go miles on foot or in an ox-sled, to hear a sermon, 
when notice was given that a missionary would preach. Where 
two or three families of this description located contiguous to each 
other, generally, public worship upon the Sabbath was immediately 
commenced. In numbers of instances this was the case in neigh- 
borhoods where but a single male professor of religion resided. 
The exercises of such meetings commonly consisted of prayer, 
singing, and reading a printed sermon. In some cases where there 
was no individual willing to lead in prayer, a neighborhood would 
assemble on the Sabbath, read a sermon, and, perhaps, sing a psalm. 
But in very many places regular public worship upon the Sabbath 
was not maintained for years after the settlement commenced. 
The habits of the people were loose and irreligious. The Sabbath 
was made a day of business, visiting, or pastime. Drinking and 
carousing were frequent concomitants. A new generation grew 
up under the influence of these irreligious examples, and were, 
perhaps, worse than their fathers. Several places in Western New 
York might be mentioned, in which the present character of the 
inhabitants, and their irreligious habits, are plainly to be traced 
back to the practices of the early settlers, half a century ago. On 
the contrary, the good order, high intelligence, good morals, and 
religious character of places that might be named, is most mani- 
festly the consequence under God, of the early establishment of 
public worship, and the other institutions of the Gospel, in connexion 
with the pious character and example of some of the first inhabit- 
ants. 

For some years after the settlement of the country commenced, 
no minister of the Gospel of the Presbyterian or Congregational 
denominations, resided within its boundaries ; nor was any church 
of either of these denominations organized. Whether any ministers 
or churches of other denominations were in existence on this field, 
is not known to the writer. The first organization of a church 



28 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



which took place in Western New York, is supposed to have been 
effected by Rev. John Smith, a clergyman from Dighton, Mass., 
who had purchased land in the Genesee country. Mr. Smith was 
in the country for a short season on business respecting his land. 
By his advice a number of persons who were members of churches 
in the Eastern States, then resident in different places in the Ge- 
nesee country, met at Canandaigua and were organized as a church 
by Mr. Smith, and attended on the celebration of the Lord's Supper. 
This was probably the first instance of the celebration of the Lord's 
Supper in Western New York. At what period this transaction 
took place cannot now be ascertained, as. no record of it remains ; 
and, perhaps, no record was ever made. The individuals, however, 
in accordance with the practice of New England churches, gave 
their assent to a short summary of Christian doctrine, and entered 
into covenant with each other. Some of the individuals concerned 
in this transaction removed into the country in the year 1790. 
Probably the organization of this church took place a year or two 
later. The members of this church are supposed to have been 
few in number. They resided in different townships, and probably 
were but little acquainted with each other. They were at too 
great a distance from each other to meet together on the Sabbath 
for religious worship. Nor does it appear that they ever met again 
after their first organization. Their organization as a church pro- 
bably took place under the impression that the Sacrament of the 
Lord's Supper could not be lawfully administered without a regular 
church organization. 

In the year 1795, Rev. Zadoc Hunn, from Berkshire county, 
Mass., removed with his family into the country, and located him- 
self on a farm in Canandaigua, adjoining what is now the town of 
Bristol, in the county of Ontario. At his arrival it is believed that 
no church had yet been organized, with the exception of the one 
mentioned above, which, however, was virtually extinct. Mr. Hunn, 
like most of the clergy in the State of Massachusetts, belonged to 
the denomination of Congregationalists, and was a regular minister 
of that denomination. He was graduated in Yale College, in the 
year 1766. Previous to his residence in Western New York, he 
had been the regular pastor of a Congregationalist church in the 
State of Massachusetts ; but after his removal he remained to his 
death without pastoral charge. He was, however, employed in 
various places around him to preach the Gospel, and perform other 
ministerial services, and, it is believed, was abundantly laborious 
and useful. His death took place on the twelfth day of May, 1801. 
After his decease he was long and affectionately remembered by 
the good people in the county of Ontario. "His talents as a preacher 
were, probably, not of the popular kind ; but he was highly esteem- 
ed as a good man, plain in his manners, correct in his doctrine, 
fervent in spirit, instructive in his conversation and preaching, and 



i 



ITS EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



29 



acceptable to his audience. His labors were, undoubtedly, very 
useful ; and it is noticeable, that the extensive revival which oc- 
curred in 1799 and 1800, was most powerful in those places where 
Mr. Hunn had labored as a minister. 

Previous to the arrival of Mr. Hunn in the Genesee country, 
the few inhabitants who resided in the region, must have been 
almost wholly destitute of the preaching of the Gospel. As far as 
is known to the writer, no minister of the Presbyterian or Congre- 
gational denomination resided in any part of what in this work is 
denominated Western New York. Two or three missionaries 
under the appointment of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
church, had entered the borders .of the territory and preached a 
few sermons. One or two, perhaps, had traversed nearly the 
whole settled region. The same, probably, is true respecting mis- 
sionaries sent out by the general association of Connecticut. But 
it is not known that any minister was employed to preach statedly 
in any place. In 1793, a Congregational church was organized in 
Palmyra, by Rev. Ira Condict, a missionary under the appointment 
of the General Assembly. As the records of that church for the 
first twenty years are lost, it cannot now be ascertained what was 
the number of original members. The same year, on the fifteenth 
day of August, a church of the same denomination was organized 
at Oquago (now Windsor), by Rev. Benjamin Judd, then a mission- 
ary under the appointment of the General Assembly, with the 
assistance of Rev. Daniel Buck. This church, at its organization, 
consisted of seven members. In July, 1794, a Congregational 
church consisting of seventeen members was formed at Sherburne, 
on the Chenango river, by Rev. Mr. Campbell, said to have been 
a missionary from Connecticut. These, as far as the information 
of the writer extends, were the first organized churches of the 
Congregational denomination in Western New York that remained 
permanent. These churches at an early period obtained the stated 
preaching of the Gospel and administration of Gospel ordinances. 
In 1795, Rev. Daniel Thatcher, a missionary in the employment of 
the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church, spent some time 
in this region of country in missionary service, and organized 
churches in Newtown (now Elmira), Charlestown (now Lima), and 
Geneseo. These churches were organized on the Presbyterian 
platform. The church at Newtown, denominated the Presbyterian 
church of Newtown and Chemung, was, at the first meeting of the 
Presbytery of Geneva (Sept. 17, 1805), received under the care of 
that Presbytery, but it never flourished ; and on the 31st of October, 
1810, a committee of Presbytery reported that it had become ex- 
tinct. The church in Charlestown remained in a feeble condition 
till the year 1799, when it was resuscitated, and reorganized as a 
Congregational church. The church in Geneseo was for a number 
of years in a low state ; for most of the time destitute of the 



30 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



preaching of the Gospel, and living in the neglect of stated public 
worship; but it afterwards revived, and its circumstances were 
more prosperous. This is the church which now has its location 
at the little village of Lakeville, at the foot of Conesus lake. In 
1796, a church of the Congregational order was organized in East 
Bloomfield, consisting of sixteen members residing in that place or 
in the vicinity. Rev. Zadoc Hunn assisted in the organization of 
the church, and was one of its members. In December of the 
same year, the church of South Bristol was organized by Rev. Zadoc 
Hunn and Rev. John Rolph. At its organization it consisted of 
ten members. In 1799, churches were organized in North Bristol, 
in West Bloomfield, and in No. 11, 4th Range (now Victor). 
These three last mentioned churches may be considered as ema- 
nating from the church in East Bloomfield, as a number of the 
individuals of whom they were composed had previously been 
members of that church. The same year, or early in the next 
year, the church of Canandaigua was organized. 

In 1800 the church of Middletown (now Naples) received its 
organization ; the church of Pittstown (now Richmond) in 1801 ; 
and the church of Augusta (now Rushville) in 1802. These churches 
were all formed on the congregational plan of discipline. The 
usual method of organizing a church was this : The individuals pro- 
posing to unite in church fellowship, obtained the assistance of 
some minister of the gospel, or more than one, if convenient, and 
on the day previously appointed for the purpose, assembled in a 
conference meeting with the minister or ministers who were to 
officiate. They then individually gave a relation of their religious 
experience, or statement of the reasons on the ground of which 
they believed that they were Christians. If satisfied with each 
other in this respect, and their relations were satisfactory to the 
officiating minister, they then, standing, gave their assent to a short 
confession of faith, or summary of Christian doctrine, read to them 
by the minister officiating ; after which a form of covenant was 
read by the minister, to which they all gave their assent, where- 
upon they were declared to be a church of Christ. If any of them 
had not previously been baptized, their baptism immediately took 
place. Credible evidence of the regeneration of the heart by the 
Holy Spirit, was considered as essential to church fellowship and 
a participation in the sacraments of the New Testament. The 
Confession of Faith and Form of Covenant, in different churches, 
were often expressed in different terms. The officiating minister 
furnished one, perhaps, which was adopted by the church of which 
he was pastor, or which he had obtained from some respectable 
source, or which was composed by himself for the occasion. But 
though these instruments differed in mode of expression, they 
generally coincided in sentiment, and expressed the fundamental 
doctrines and duties of religion in a distinct and brief manner. 



ITS EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



31 



That it may be clearly understood what were the views of Chris- 
tian doctrine and practice which were entertained by the early 
churches of Western New York, and which still constitute the 
bond of church union among them, the following Confession of 
Faith and Form of Covenant, which has been extensively adopted, 
and with which most of the others used in the Presbyterian and 
Congregational Churches of Western New York substantially agree, 
are here appended. 

"Confession of Faith. — You do receive the Confession of Faith, 
and the Catechisms of the Presbyterian Church in the United States 
of America, so far as you are acquainted with them, as containing 
an excellent summary of Scripture truth — Particularly, 

" You believe that Jehovah, the one only living and true God, is 
perfect in natural and moral excellence ; that he exists in three 
persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, who possess the 
same nature, and are equal in every divine perfection ; that he 
made, preserves, and governs all things for his own glory, and that, 
in whatsoever comes to pass, he accomplishes the eternal counsel 
of his own will, in such a way that man is a free and accountable 
agent. 

" You believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testament 
are given by inspiration of God, and are the sufficient and only rule 
of faith and practice. 

" You believe that God created man upright ; that man freely 
sinned and fell ; and that, in consequence of the original offence, all 
mankind, in their natural state, are destitute of holiness, totally de- 
praved in heart, and under the curse of the divine law. 

" You believe that Jesus Christ is both God and man in two dis- 
tinct natures, and one person for ever ; that by his sufferings and 
death he made a complete atonement for the sins of the world, that 
he rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven, as the Mediator 
between God and man ; that through him salvation is freely offered 
to mankind ; and that there is salvation in no other. 

" You believe that all those who will be saved by Jesus Christ, 
were, in distinction from others, given to him as his Elect, from all 
eternity ; that, by the special influence of the Holy Spirit in their 
regeneration, they are made willing to receive him in the faith of 
the gospel ; and that, having received him, they are justified by 
grace, through faith ; and have the sure promise of being preserved, 
by the same grace, in new and holy obedience unto eternal life. 

" You believe that Christ has a church on earth ; that, in its visi- 
ble form, it comprehends all those who credibly profess the faith of 
the gospel, that its sacraments are Baptism and the Lord's Supper, 
and that Baptism is to be administered not only to believers, but 
also to the children of their households. 

" You believe that the sanctification of the weekly Sabbath is of 
perpetual obligation; that the worship of God in the closet, in the 



32 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



family, and in the sanctuary, is divinely appointed ; that the preach- 
ing of the Gospel is a divine institution, and that a strict and care- 
ful discipline should be maintained in the church for its edification. 

" Finally — You believe there will be a resurrection of the body, 
and a general judgment, when Christ will be revealed as judge, the 
righteous be received to eternal blessedness in heaven, and the 
wicked be sentenced to endless misery in hell." 

"Covenant. — You do now, in the presence of the ever-living 
God, his holy angels, and this assembly, avouch the Lord Jehovah 
to be your God ; Jesus Christ to be your Prophet, Priest, and King ; 
and the Holy Ghost to be your Sanctifier, Comforter,' and Guide ; 
you deliberately and for ever dedicate yourselves and all you have, 
to God in Christ, humbly confessing and repenting of your sins, 
and solemnly promising, in dependence on his grace, that you will 
make his word the rule of your faith and practice ; that you will 
carefully observe his ordinances and institutions ; and that you 
will never turn back from your profession, but will walk with God, 
and with his people all the days of your lives. You more particu- 
larly dedicate yourselves to the service of Christ in this church, 
engaging that you will walk with it, in charity and Christian affec- 
tion ; that you will seek its purity, peace, and edification ; and that 
you will faithfully employ, and meekly receive the admonition and 
discipline which Christ has ordained, until by death, or in the pro- 
vidence of God, your connexion with it shall be orderly dissolved." 

Mention has been made of Rev. Zadoc Hunn, who located him- 
self at Bristol in 1795, as the first minister of the Congregational 
denomination who came into the Genesee country, permanently to 
reside. The next who followed was Rev. John Rolph from Mas- 
sachusetts, who was, in January, 1797, installed pastor of the church 
of South Bristol, by an ecclesiastical council convened for the pur- 
pose. The ministers who composed this council were Rev. Zadoc 
Hunn, Rev. Eliphalet Steele of Paris, Oneida county, and Rev. 
Asahel S. Norton, now Dr. Norton of Clinton, Oneida county, who 
is yet living. These were the nearest ministers to be obtained. 
Mr. Steele and Dr. Norton, as the state of the road must have 
been at that time, could not have performed the journey out in less 
time than three or four days. This, undoubtedly, was the first ecclesi- 
astical council that was ever convened in the State of New York, 
west of the east line of the Military Tract. Mr. Rolph's connex- 
ion with the church of South Bristol did not prove to be a happy 
one. Dissension between him and the people in a short time 
sprang up, and on the ninth day of October, 1800, Mr. Rolph was 
dismissed from his pastoral charge. He continued to reside in 
Western New York as long as he lived, but was never again 
settled in the ministry, and preached only occasionally. 

Rev. Reuben Parmele was the next minister, in the order of time, 
who located in the Genesee country. He came into the country 



ITS EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



S3 



to explore, in the autumn of 1798, removed his family in the follow- 
ing winter, and on the thirteenth day of February, 1799, was in- 
stalled pastor of the church in that part of the town of Bloomfield 
which was generally denominated Boughtontown, now the town 
of Victor. The ceremony of installation was performed by an 
ecclesiastical council convened for the purpose. Mr. Parmele, like 
those who preceded him, was a man in middle life, and had been 
several years engaged in the ministry previous to his coming into 
the Genesee country. He was a graduate of Yale College of the 
year 1781. He had once been settled in the ministry in Hines- 
burgh, Vermont, but, at the time of his removal to Western New 
York, was from the State of Connecticut. He belonged to the 
Congregational denomination. 

The next settlement of a minister in the order of time, was that 
of Rev. Timothy Field, at Canandaigua. Mr. Field came to Canan- 
daigua in the month of June, 1799, in consequence of an application 
from the people of that village, and on the recommendation of Dr. 
Dwight, the President of Yale College, with whom he had studied 
Theology. At his coming he was a licensed preacher of the gos- 
pel, but had not preached for any length of time. He received a 
call for settlement from the newly formed church, and in February, 
1800, was, by an ecclesiastical council convened for the purpose, 
ordained to the work of the ministry, and installed pastor of the 
church of Canandaigua. This was the first ordination that took 
place in the Genesee country in the Congregational churches, and 
prior to the occurrence of any such solemnity in the Presbyterian 
church in that region. 

In the year 1799, Rev. Joseph Grover, an elderly clergyman from 
Parsippany, in New Jersey, came into the country as a missionary 
in the employ of a Society in New Jersey, formed for the promo- 
tion of Religion and Learning. Mr. Grover was a member of the 
Morris County Associated Presbytery, an ecclesiastical body, the 
members of which were Congregationalists in principle and prac- 
tice, and which was formed by a secession of four ministers from 
the Presbytery of New York, and from the Synod of New York 
and Philadelphia in 1780. Mr. Grover, on his mission, visited the 
newly formed church of Bristol, preached to them a short time, and 
received a unanimous call from the church and society to become 
their pastor, to which call he responded affirmatively. In the win- 
ter following, he removed his family to Bristol, and on the eleventh 
day of June, 1800, was installed pastor of the church and congre- 
gation by the Association of Ontario. 

It was, probably, about the time of the settlement of Messrs. Gro- 
ver and Field, or, perhaps, the succeeding year, that Rev. Eleazar 
Fairbanks, a Congregational minister of the gospel from the south- 
eastern part of the State of Vermont, arrived in the Genesee coun- 
try. He located himself and familv near the village of Palmyra, and 

3 



34 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



for a considerable period ministered to the church and congrega- 
tion in that town, and its vicinity ; but was never regularly installed 
as pastor of any church in Western New York. 

In 1800, Rev. Jedidiah Chapman, an experienced minister of the 
gospel and member of the Presbytery of New York, received an 
appointment from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church 
in the United States, as " a stated missionary for four years on the 
north-western frontiers." This appointment was made at the meet- 
ing of the Assembly at Philadelphia, in the month of May of that 
year. By the north-western frontier, Western New York was in- 
tended. Mr. Chapman " was directed to take up his residence in 
some convenient place for accomplishing the Assembly's views, and 
required to perform annually six months' missionary labor on a tour 
through the destitute settlements, for the purpose of organizing 
churches, as well as preaching the gospel. It was made the duty 
of Mr. Chapman to direct the routes of the Missionaries sent to that 
region, and to give them advice for executing their commissions to 
the best advantage : and another duty prescribed to him was, to 
lay before the Assembly annually, an account of the religious state 
of things, the disposition of the inhabitants to receive the word, the 
number of organized churches, and the prospect afforded for the 
establishment of more." In obedience to the instructions of the 
Assembly, Mr. Chapman removed his family from New Jersey, and 
located himself at the village of Geneva, where he continued to re- 
side till the period of his decease, in 1813. By the terms of his 
commission, Mr. Chapman was expected to be employed in the mis- 
sionary field, under pay from the funds of the Assembly, during six 
months of the year, and for the remainder of the time, to minister 
in some congregation where he might obtain compensation for his 
services. He continued a number of years engaged in missionary 
service one half of the time, and for the other half, ministering to 
the congregation of Geneva. Nearly at the same time with the ar- 
rival of Mr. Chapman at Geneva, or perhaps somewhat later, Rev. 
John Lindsley, from Kingsborough in the county of Montgomery, 
located himself in the tow^n of Ovid (now Covert), in the county of 
Cayuga (now Seneca), and preached a part of the time to the 
church and congregation in that place. It is believed that he was 
introduced to that community under the character of a missionary, 
as it appears from the Minutes of the General Assembly, that in 
1800 he was appointed a missionary, with particular direction to 
visit the town of Ovid. Messrs. Chapman and Lindsley were the 
first ministers of the Presbyterian denomination who came into 
Western New York, to reside permanently, and for several years 
were the only ones of that denomination. Mr. Lindsley was a 
member of the Presbytery of Albany. 

In the autumn of 1801, Mr. James H. Hotchkin, then a very 
young man, and a licensed preacher of the gospel, under the care 



ITS EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



35 



of the Northern Associated Presbytery of the State of New York, 
came into Western New York from the county of Greene. He 
spent about six weeks in the town of Milton (now Genoa), and then 
proceeded on to West Bloomfield, where he was engaged for a pe- 
riod of about ten months, to preach to that congregation one half of 
the time. The other share of the time, he preached during the 
winter at Northfield (now Pittsford), and in the summer at Charles- 
town (now Lima.) At the close of his engagement in West Bloom- 
field, he received a call from the church and congregation in that 
place, to settle with them in the work of the ministry. He re- 
turned to his friends in the eastern part of the State, and spent a 
period of about three months, during which he received ordina- 
tion as an evangelist from the Northern Associated Presbytery. In 
the fall he returned to W est Bloomfield, accepted the call of the 
church and congregation, and on the nineteenth day of May, 1803, 
was installed as their pastor, by an ecclesiastical council convened 
for the purpose. It is pleasing to notice, at this early period of the 
ecclesiastical history of Western New York, the friendliness of feel- 
ing existing between the ministers and churches of the Presbyterian 
and Congregational denominations. In this ecclesiastical council, 
convened for the installation of Mr. Hotchkin, Rev. Jedidiah Chap- 
man of the Presbyterian denomination, and a Ruling Elder from 
the church of Genoa, sat in the most harmonious manner with Con- 
gregational ministers and delegates of Congregational churches. 
The same thing had previously occurred, in the winter preceding^ 
at the ordination of Rev. Ahijah Warren, at South Bristol, and his 
installation as pastor of the church and congregation in that place. 
Mr. Chapman was a member of the ordaining council, and cordially 
participated with his Congregational brethren in the exercises of 
the occasion. 

It will be proper, in this place, to pause in our narration, and 
briefly notice some circumstances which contributed to the forma- 
tion of so many churches, and the settlement of so many ministers 
in such a brief period, in the Genesee country. The influx of emi- 
grants into the country was great. Every month brought with it 
an accession to the number of inhabitants. Some of these were 
members of Congregational or Presbyterian churches. A still larger 
number, perhaps, though not professors of religion, were, from habit 
and education, disposed to support religious institutions. The num- 
ber of settlements was constantly increasing — so w T as the number 
of inhabitants in each particular settlement. Hence the ability to 
support religious institutions was constantly increasing. At the 
commencement of the year 1799, the ministers resident in the 
Genesee country were, Rev. Zadoc Hunn, at North Bristol ; Rev. 
John Rolph, at South Bristol ; and Rev. Reuben Parmele, just arrived 
at Victor. It is believed that Rev. Jedidiah Bushnell, then a licensed 
preacher of the gospel from Connecticut, was preaching in the vil- 



36 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



lage of Canandaigua. From the month of July to November of 
that year, he was employed as an itinerating missionary, in the 
service of the Missionary Society of Connecticut. Rev. Seth Wil- 
liston was employed by the same society for four months in the 
early part of that year, as a missionary in the county of Ontario, and 
again towards the close of the year, and most of the succeeding 
year, though his field of labor on this last mission embraced the 
whole region of Western New York. Rev. David Barclay and 
Rev. Robert Logan spent three months as missionaries under com- 
missions from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, 
mostly in the counties of Ontario and Steuben. In connexion with 
the labors of these ministers, God was pleased to pour out his spirit 
on the people in a remarkable manner, and a glorious work of grace 
was accomplished, extending into many places in Western New 
York. For many years afterwards the year 1799 was mentioned 
as the year of the " Great Revival" The preaching and labors of 
Messrs. Williston and Bushnell "were in a particular manner instru- 
mental of good in this work of Divine grace. These ministers, a 
short time since, were still living, and able to labor in their Master's 
vineyard. Mr. Williston is the Rev. Seth Williston, D.D., of Dur- 
ham, Greene county, N.Y. Mr. Bushnell, the Rev. Jedediah Bush- 
nell of Cornwall, Vermont, who departed this life, August 20th, 1846, 
in the full enjoyment of the hope of a blessed immortality. As this 
work of grace was the first extensive work of the kind which oc- 
curred in Western New York, and has such a bearing on the sub- 
sequent ecclesiastical history of the country, it may not be amiss to 
give a somewhat detailed account of it. This we will endeavor to 
do in the language of those who were personally connected 
with it. 

Dr. Williston, in a letter dated April 29th, 1799, and addressed 
to the Editor of the New York Missionary Magazine, says, " There 
has been a very pleasing attention to the one thing needful, in seve- 
ral societies in this county (Ontario), during the winter, and it still 
continues. The seriousness began, I believe, at Palmyra, a town 
which is situated about fifteen miles north from Canandaigua, where 
several have hopefully been brought to Christ. At Bristol and 
Bloomfield there has been, and still is, a most solemn attention to the 
concerns of eternity. Bloomfield is a large town ; it contains three 
congregational societies ; the awakening has prevailed in them all. 
In one of these societies (Victor), where they have lately settled a 
minister, the awakening is now very much upon the increase. The 
youth and children seem to be roused up to inquire, What must we 
do to be saved ? In Bristol the work seems to have a new spring. In 
that place, I believe there are as many as twenty persons who have 
lately obtained a hope of their saving acquaintance with Christ. In 
the several places in this neighborhood where the work of God is 
going on, there are, probably, about sixty whose hearts, we hope, 



ITS EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



37 



are renewed, and many, who have no hope in Christ, are pretty 
fully convinced that they are in a deplorable state without religipn. 
There are some other towns in the vicinity, where there is more 
than a usual attention paid to religious matters. A few drops from 
the cloud of glory have fallen upon Pittstown (Richmond). At 
Charlestown (Lima) the people are quite desirous of having the 
word preached ; and, what is very encouraging to the friends of 
religion in this quarter, there is a very pleasing and uncommon at- 
tention to public worship in Canandaigua, the capital of this county, 
and one of the most flourishing towns in all the western part of the 
State. The people generally attend public worship, and when pre- 
sent, they apparently give a solemn attention to that which is spoken 
by the preacher. They have had a worthy young candidate (sup- 
posed to be Mr. Bushnell) with them for six months past, who has 
been an instrument of much good in the county. In Canandaigua 
there are a few individuals whose minds are anxious about futurity. 
The spirit evidently began to be poured out upon Bristol and Bloom- 
field about the beginning of the year. The preaching of the gospel, 
and the attendance upon conference meetings, appears to have been 
the principal means which the spirit has made use of to begin and 
carry on the good work. There has been a remarkable attention 
. paid to public instruction, not only on the Sabbath, but also upon 
week-days. It has been difficult during the winter to get places 
large enough to accommodate, or even contain the people who have 
come together to hear something about Jesus and his salvation. 
It seemed as if there was scarcely anybody at home who could 
possibly get to meeting. Once I saw about four hundred people 
assembled at one place. When at the place of worship there is a 
very solemn attention paid to the preaching. The countenances of 
many show how anxious their minds are to know how they may 
flee from the wrath to come. There are some pretty remarkable 
instances of the sovereignty of grace. The awakening among us 
is very free from noise and wildness. Convictions in general are 
pretty clear, and the supposed conversions are not of the visionary 
kind. The doctrines which God makes use of to awaken and con- 
vince sinners among us, are those which are commonly distinguished 
as Calvinistic doctrines." The circumstance above mentioned, that 
on one occasion as many as four hundred were assembled to attend 
on public worship, is indicative of the state of the population at that 
period. This meeting was held in the most thickly settled part of 
Western New York ; and, probably, far the greater part of the peo- 
ple of sufficient age to hear with understanding, and who resided 
within four miles of the place of meeting, were in attendance. 

At a period considerably later than the date of the preceding 
communication, Mr. Bushnell, in writing to the Trustees of the Mis- 
sionary Society of Connecticut, says : — " I have spent most of my 
time since I entered upon my mission in the county of Ontario. In 



38 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



that county God has been pleased to pour down his spirit in a 
remarkable manner. The religious attention began more than a 
year ago in the town of Bristol. It soon spread in a number of 
societies in the town of Bloomfield. The work increased gradually 
through the winter. But in the spring and summer following 
(1799), God made a more wonderful display of divine power and 
grace in the conversion of sinners. It was truly a glorious time ; 
many people, it is believed, will remember it for ever. Through 
the whole awakening, the most evident marks have appeared that 
the work was God's work. The convictions of sinners have been 
regular, solemn, and pungent ; their conversions calm, rational, and 
heavenly. Two societies in the town of Bristol, and three in the 
town of Bloomfield, have been the most highly favored with the 
blessed effusions of the Holy Spirit, though the neighboring soci- 
eties have shared considerably in the fruits of the glorious harvest ; 
and in my last tour over the country, individuals appeared awakened 
in most places. Five churches have been formed in the county of 
Ontario ; the year past, also, great additions have been made to a 
number of churches previously organized. In some of the other 
western counties, appearances are promising. Audiences are fre- 
quently numerous, and the attention solemn ; but, notwithstanding, 
some parts of the wilderness have of late appeared to bud and 
blossom like the rose. There are many places where the inhabit- 
ants are truly in a deplorable situation. They are perishing in 
darkness. It is not uncommon for missionaries to preach where 
the people have not heard a sermon for twelve months. Their 
destitute situation is truly affecting." This letter was undoubtedly 
written in the spring of 1800. The five churches said to have been 
organized within a year, must have been those in Canandaigua, No. 
11, now Victor, West Bloomfield, North Bristol, and Middletown, 
now Naples. This place shared considerably in the revival, though 
it is not named in the preceding communications. The revival 
paved the way for the organization of most of these churches. As 
the result of this revival, between one and two hundred members 
were added to the several churches in the county of Ontario. 

With regard to the means employed to promote this revival, Dr. 
Williston observes, — " The preaching of the gospel, and the attend- 
ing upon conference meetings, appear to have been the principal 
means which the Spirit has made use of to begin and carry on the 
good work." It may undoubtedly be said with truth, that all the 
ministers who had any connexion with this work, were entirely 
harmonious in their views respecting the doctrines which it was 
proper to preach, and the measures which should be employed to 
promote a revival. With regard to the character of the preaching, 
Dr. Williston remarks, — " The doctrines which God makes use of 
to awaken and convince sinners^ among us, are those which are 
commonly distinguished as Calvinistic." Those who are in any 



ITS EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



39 



degree acquainted with the published writings of Dr. Williston — and 
they have been pretty widely disseminated — will be at no loss to 
apprehend what he means by the doctrines commonly distinguished 
as Calvinistic. They will understand, that he means to include the 
doctrines of man's entire depravity of heart by nature, and alienation 
from God — his inability while remaining in this state to do anything 
acceptable to God — an inability consisting wholly in indisposition 
of heart ; — man's perfect obligation to do the whole law of God ; — 
the duty of immediate repentance towards God, and faith in our 
Lord Jesus Christ, whose atonement constitutes the sole ground of 
the sinner's justification with God ; the person, character, and work 
of the Mediator ; the fulness and freeness of the overtures of 
mercy in the gospel ; the necessity and nature of the work of the 
Holy Spirit in the regeneration of the heart, and the sovereignty of 
God in the bestowment of the Spirit's influences ; together with the 
realities of the world to come. Nor in this enumeration of doctrines 
preached, is the doctrine of the particular election of a select num- 
ber of the human family to final salvation, to be omitted. These 
doctrines were clearly, fully, affectionately, and constantly pre- 
sented in the preaching of the Word, to the view of the hearers, 
and were manifested to be the sword of the Spirit to pierce the 
consciences and hearts of sinners. 

Dr. Williston mentions conference meetings as another means of 
promoting the revival. At this early period of the ecclesiastical 
history of Western New York, all that machinery for getting up 
and carrying on revivals of religion, which has to such an extent 
been employed in modern times, was utterly unknown. The plain, 
faithful exhibition of divine truth, together with earnest persevering 
prayer to God for the special influence of the Holy Spirit to make 
it effectual, was understood to be the legitimate means of promoting 
revivals of religion. Conference meetings, so called, were very 
frequent in the Eastern States, during the latter part of the last, and 
beginning of the present century. They were meetings of indivi- 
duals of a neighborhood, and sometimes of a parish, ordinarily 
held on a week-day, for religious exercises. They were opened 
and closed with prayer, ordinarily accompanied with singing. The 
interval between the opening and closing exercises, w^hich included 
in it the greater part of the meeting, was occupied with conversation 
on religious subjects, or at times with address in a way of exhortation. 
The conversation sometimes was confined to a particular subject, or 
portion of scripture ; sometimes it was of a more desultory character. 
During the meeting, often questions were asked respecting the 
meaning of passages of scripture, or for information respecting 
some doctrine or duty contained in the word of God, and answers 
were given. In times of revival, the meeting often assumed the 
character of an inquiry meeting, and much of the time was occu- 
pied in personal conversation with individuals, especially young 



40 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



converts, and the awakened, respecting the state of their souls. 
Such meetings were generally very frequent in times of revival, and 
afforded most precious opportunities to ministers to impart instruc- 
tions to the awakened, and young converts, appropriate to their 
individual circumstances. The ministers who were connected with 
this revival, had much to say on the danger of resting on a spurious 
hope, and were very earnest in imparting instruction on the dis- 
tinguishing characteristics of a well-founded hope in Christ. As 
the result of this course of instruction and treatment, those who 
♦united w r ith the churches were generally well indoctrinated, and 
were able to give a clear and rational account of a work of grace 
on their hearts. They generally remained steadfast after their 
profession. Had a similar course of instruction and training been 
pursued in revivals of later times, if the number of professors had 
been less, the church would not have had to mourn over the dis- 
sensions and divisions, the alienation of affection, the animosities 
and heart-burnings, the secessions and apostasies, which have 
marred her beauty, rendered her a laughing-stock to her enemies, 
and afflicted her in all her members. 

Mention has been made of the Association of Ontario, in con- 
nexion with the notice of the Installation of Mr. Grover at 
North Bristol. This was the first ecclesiastical body of the kind, 
which was formed in New York. At the commencement of the 
year 1800, several churches having been organized, and a small 
number of ministers being located in the country, it was judged 
proper that an Association should be formed for the purpose of 
greater union in action, for the promotion of the interests of reli- 

fion. Accordingly, on the eighteenth day of March, 1800, Rev. 
lessrs. Zadoc Hunn, Joseph Grover, John Rolph, Reuben Par- 
mele, and Timothy Field, met at Bristol, and having united in 
solemn prayer to God for wisdom and direction, did form them- 
selves into an Association, to be called, " The Association of On- 
tario." The model after which the Association was formed, was 
the Morris County Associated Presbytery, in the State of New 
Jersey, of which Mr. Grover was a member. The ministers 
agreed to invite each church to send a delegate to take a seat in 
the Association, and to take a part in all the deliberations, and vote 
with the ministers on all questions. The churches generally com- 
plied with this invitation, and were considered as belonging to the 
Association. They agreed to hold semi-annual meetings, and at 
each meeting to choose a Moderator and Clerk. A Register was 
also appointed to be a standing officer, to transcribe the minutes 
into a book, and take charge of all the papers belonging to the 
Association. They claimed no jurisdiction over the churches, and 
were a mere advisory body, at least for several years. After three 
or four years the constitution of the Association was revised, and 
so altered as to give the Association a jurisdiction over the minis- 



ITS EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



41 



ters, and over the churches to such an extent as to exclude them 
from the connexion, if found erroneous in doctrine or practice. 
At the next meeting after the organization of the Association, Rev. 
Eleazer Fairbanks united with the Association : in the winter of 
1803, Rev. James H. Hotchkin ; and in the summer following, 
Rev. Ahijah Warren became a member. In 1804, it appears that 
the following churches were connected with the Association : — 
Charlestown (now Lima), East Bloomfield, West Bloomfield, No. 
11 (now Victor), Canandaigua, North Bristol, South Bristol, 
Middletown (now Naples), Pittstown (now Richmond), and Au- 
gusta (now Rushville)* 



42 



CHAPTER IV. 

Early Settlers on the Military Tract : their Character. Early Missionaries : Dr. 
Williston and others. Revivals of Religion. Organization of Churches. Milton, 
Aurelius, Skeneatoles, Pompey, Homer, Marcellus, Locke, Camillus, Ovid, Romu- 
lus, Ulysses, Junius. Rev. John Lindsley settled at Ovid : Rev. David Higgins at 
Aurelius : Rev. Hugh Wallis at Pompey : Rev. Nathan B. Darrow at Homer. Mr. 
Higgins's Letter. Presbytery of Oneida organized. Middle Association. 

It has been remarked, on a preceding page, that the settlement 
of the Military Tract did not commence as early, nor proceed as 
rapidly as the settlement of the Genesee country. It was not, 
however, far behind. The traits of character which distinguished 
the first immigrants of the Genesee country, are substantially the 
same with those which characterized the early settlers on the Mili- 
tary Tract. They were generally from the same regions of coun- 
try. In emigrating from their former residence, their objects were 
precisely the same. The circumstances under which they found 
themselves in their new residences, as respects security from hos- 
tile foes, and conveniences for comfortable living, were similar. 
Their opportunity for religious instruction was the same. It may, 
however, be remarked, that the country between the Seneca and 
Cayuga lakes received a much larger share of its first inhabitants 
from the States of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. These gave the 
character of the States from which they emigrated to this region, 
in a higher degree than is to be found in most other parts of West- 
ern New York. But the prevailing character of the inhabitants of 
the Military Tract, is the New England character somewhat 
modified. As to the views of the immigrants respecting religion, 
and religious institutions, and their religious feelings, they were, 
in all respects, of the same class with their more western neigh- 
bors. As to their religious privileges, especially the enjoyment 
of the preaching of the gospel, their circumstances were similar to 
those who settled in the Genesee country. As the Military Tract 
lay in the direct rout of trave 1 to the Genesee country, it was 
visited by missionaries at as early a period as the other. Rev. 
Daniel Thatcher, who was a missionary to Western New York 
from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, in 1795 
and 1796, undoubtedly passed through some part of the Military 
Tract, and probably preached in some places. Of the missionaries 
sent out from Connecticut to visit the new settlements, it is not 
known to the writer that any of them penetrated as far west as the 
Military Tract. The accounts of their labors which the writer has 



THE MILITARY TRACT. 



43 



seen, are indefinite, as regards the extent of the fields which they 
occupied ; and in some missionary accounts, he finds the region 
contiguous to the Hudson river designated as " the frontiers ." 

In the month of June, 1798, Rev. Seth Williston was appointed 
by the General Association of Connecticut to perform a tour of 
four months' missionary service, particularly in the county of 
Onondaga. This county at that period embraced the whole of the 
Military Tract. Mr. Williston labored in this county from about 
the first of September to the end of the year, occasionally going 
into the counties of Tioga and Chenango. In his report of his la- 
bors, he says, " There are but few churches in the county, and 
no stated ministers of our order. There is a great want of some 
able, pious, zealous men, to fix down in different parts of the 
county, as ministers of the gospel. Three or four such might be 
extensively useful. We are afraid to establish churches, while 
there are no shepherds within call to feed and lead them." The 
same year Rev. John Close, Rev. Asa Hillyer, Rev. Asa Dunham, 
and Messrs. John Semons, and John Patterson, licensed preachers 
of the gospel, were in the employ of the General Assembly, as 
missionaries, for different periods, to the new settlements. Their 
fields of labor included the county of Onondaga. Dr. Hillyer, 
particularly, was directed to visit the towns of Milton, Aurora, 
Homer, Manlius, Solon, and Pompey. The same year Rev. Beriah 
Hotchkin, in fulfilment of an appointment from the Berkshire and 
Columbia Missionary Society, passed through a part of the Mili- 
tary Tract," and spent a short time in missionary labors on that 
field. 

In the year 1799, Dr. Williston, Mr. Bushnell, and Mr. Walter 
King, a licensed preacher of the gospel, spent some portion of the 
year on this field, ki the service of the Missionary Society of Con- 
necticut. Dr. Williston, in his report, speaks of revivals of religion 
as existing in several places. His labors appear to have been abun- 
dant, and to have been useful. In the township of Locke he assisted 
in the organization of a church of the Congregational order. Of 
Mr. King, it is observed, that " he found several places where there 
was a revival of religion, particularly in Onondaga county. The 
same year Rev. Methuselah Baldwin was appointed by the General 
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, to spend three months or 
more in missionary labors, in the county of Onondaga, in connex- 
ion with Dr. Williston. Respecting his labors, there is no particu- 
lar account, excepting that at the next meeting of the General As- 
sembly, it is stated that the missionaries appointed at the previous 
meeting of the Assembly, had proceeded on their respective tours, 
and had been diligent and laborious in discharging their duty- It 
is remarked, " the success of missionary labors is greatly on the in- 
crease. God is shaking the valley of dry bones on the frontiers : a 
spiritual resurrection is there taking place. There is a serious and 



44 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



solemn attention to the great realities of religion in many places, and in 
different parts of that country. Some hundreds of people have, in 
a short space, been received into the communion of the church, and 
among these, several who were formerly avowed infidels and uni- 
versalists." 

Dr. Williston recommenced his labors in the beginning of Octo- 
ber, 1799, and continued them to the close of the year 1800. The 
general field of labor assigned him, was the western counties of the 
State of New York. This, as the term was then understood, would 
include a much larger territory than that which in this work is de- 
nominated Western New York. It is, however, well known, that a 
considerable share of his labors was expended on the Military 
Tract. He is said to have " spent a considerable time in places 
where there appeared to be an awakening, particularly in Milton 
(now Genoa), where the Spirit was poured out in an abundant mea- 
sure, with his usual zeal and assiduity. Mr. Williston performed 
the duties of his mission, and success attended his labors. Many 
individuals were added to the churches, and one new church orga- 
nized in the town of Scipio, and another in the town of Camillus." 
The same year, Mr. Bushnell, now an ordained minister, and Mr. 
Amara Jerome, a licensed preacher of the Gospel, were missionaries 
in the employ of the Connecticut Missionary Society, and labored 
a part of the time on the Military Tract. 

The missionaries of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
Church, who seem to have visited the Military Tract in the year 
1800, were Rev. Robert Logan, Rev. Jonathan Freeman, Rev. John 
Lindsley, and Rev. Matthew L. R. Perrine (the late Dr. Perrine, 
Professor in the Theological Seminary of Auburn). Mr. Lindsley 
was particularly instructed to visit the towns of Ovid, Romulus, and 
Hector. With respect to most of these missionaries, it is not pro- 
bable that they spent much time on the Military Tract*. The fields 
assigned them were extensive, and their periods of service short. 
It is probable that Mr. Chapman, who was this year stationed at 
Geneva, as has been already narrated, bestowed some part of his 
labor on this field. During the same year, Rev. David Perry and 
Rev. Samuel Fuller were employed on missions, by the Berkshire 
and Columbia Missionary Society. A part of the time of their 
service was spent on the Military Tract. 

Up to this period, the close of the year 1800, no ministers of 
the Presbyterian or Congregational order had settled on the Military 
Tract. Very little, if any, preaching by ministers of these denomi- 
nations, except missionaries, was enjoyed. In some places public 
worship on the Sabbath was regularly maintained, but in many, this 
was not the case. The revival of 1799 and 1800, it appears, ex- 
tended to this region, and caused the wilderness to blossom as the 
rose. The character of the revival on the Military Tract was the 
same as in the Genesee country. The people upon whom it operat- 



THE MILITARY TRACT. 



45 



ed, were of the same description ; mostly emigrants from New 
England. The same ministers, who as missionaries had labored in 
the Genesee country, and whose labors had been, in a particular 
manner, instrumental of the revival in that region, labored also on 
the Military Tract, and were especially the instruments God made 
use of to revive his work in that section of the country. Reference 
is here had to Dr. Williston and Mr. Bushnell. Their labors were 
of longer continuance than those of the other missionaries, and, of 
course, must have had a special influence in giving character to the 
revival. But those who were fellow laborers with them, were men 
of like spirit with themselves ; believers of the same glorious 
truths, preaching the same gospel of Jesus Christ. Hence the same 
course of instruction, the use of the same means, and adoption of 
the same measures, to awaken and promote religious feeling, and to 
prepare converts for an admission to the church, were employed as 
in the Genesee country. On the Military Tract there were no set- 
tled pastors, or stated supplies ; in the Genesee country there were 
two or three. To give a particular account of this revival on the 
Military Tract at this late period, or even enumerate the several 
places in which it was most powerful, is impossible. Documents 
are wanting, or, if they exist, they have not fallen under the notice 
of the compiler of this work. The town of Milton (now Genoa) 
received a goodly share of the blessed effusion of the Divine Spirit. 
Scipio, Locke, Aurelius, Camillus, and Marcellus experienced a re- 
freshing. It is believed that the same may be said of Pompey, and 
probably of some other places. The revival in Homer was of a 
somewhat earlier date. Mr. Williston visited this place in 1797, 
and again in 1798, as a missionary. The present pastor of the 
church in a late communication says, Mr. Williston's labors were 
much blessed from the first, and resulted in a revival as early as 
1798, by means of which about sixteen were hopefully converted. 
The result of these revivals was, that a goodly number of souls 
were born into the kingdom of God. The feeble churches pre- 
viously existing, were increased in numbers, and strengthened. 
The way was preparing for the regular settlement of ministers. 
How many churches on the Military Tract had been organized 
previous to the revival, is not known to the writer. The church of 
Milton (now Genoa) was organized in 1798, and as the result of 
the revival, received an accession of about twenty members to its 
former number. It is believed that churches were organized pre- 
- vious to the revival in Aurelius, in Skeneateles, perhaps in Pom- 
pey, and in some other places. 

These revivals prepared the way for the formation of several 
new churches. On the twelfth day of October, 1801, a Congrega- 
tional church, consisting of fourteen members, was organized at 
Homer, by Rev. Hugh Wallis of Solon. The next day a Congre- 
gational church was organized at Marcellus (Nine Mile Creek), con- 



46 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



sisting of eighteen members, by Rev. Caleb Alexander, a missionary 
from Massachusetts. Mention has been made of the organization 
of a church in the town of Locke, in 1799. This church continued 
for a time. It was always small and feeble, and after a season be- 
came extinct, in consequence of churches organized in its near 
vicinity in more favorable locations. The church spoken of as 
formed in Camillus, in 1800, is the same as the present church of 
Elbridge, which was organized in 1800 : and the church in Scipio, 
formed the same year, is that which is now known as the first 
church of Scipio. All these churches were organized as Congre- 
gational churches. Whether there were any others at as early a 
date is unknown to the writer. 

It has been remarked that the country lying between the 
Cayuga and Seneca lakes received a very considerable share of 
its first immigrants from the States of New Jersey and Pennsyl- 
vania. These were a large share of them of Dutch, Scotch, and 
Irish origin, and, as far as religion was concerned, felt a sympathy 
with the Presbyterian and Reformed Dutch churches. The mis- 
sionaries who visited them were, to some extent, of the Presbyte- 
rian denomination. Mr. Thatcher probably visited them in 1795 
and 1796, some others in 1798, and Mr. Lindsley and Doctor 
Perrine in 1800, and in subsequent years. From the year 1800 they 
were in the immediate vicinity of Mr. Chapman, who was stationed 
at Geneva, as a permanent missionary. A church was at a pretty 
early period organized in the town of Ovid, also one in Romulus, 
and two in Ulysses, also one at Junius (Seneca Falls). These 
churches were Presbyterian in their organization and form of 
government. The church of Ovid is not the church which at the 
present time bears that name. The original church of Ovid had 
its location in what is now the town of Covert, but embraced all 
the members of the Presbyterian church residing within the limits 
of the present towns of Ovid, Covert, Lodi, and Hector. Over 
this church Rev. John Lindsley was installed as pastor, probably 
in the year 1802 or 1803. He did not continue long in this situ- 
ation, but on the fifth day of November, 1805, was dismissed from 
his pastoral relation by the Presbytery of Geneva, on his own 
application, and with the consent of the congregation. In the year 
1808, this church was dismissed from the care of the Presbytery to 
join a classis of the Reformed Dutch Church. 

In the month of September, 1801, Rev. David Higgins, of Lyme, 
in the State of Connecticut, entered on a mission to the Western 
Counties of New York, under the patronage of the Connecticut 
Missionary Society. He spent some time in the counties of Dela- 
ware and Otsego, and then proceeded westward through the 
counties of Chenango, Onondaga, and Cayuga, to the county of 
Ontario. He spent seventeen weeks in missionary service, preach- 
ing to large and attentive assemblies. The Trustees of the 



THE MILITARY TRACT. 



47 



Society, in their Annual Report, say, " He speaks of an extensive 
harvest, with but few laborers. Mr. Higgins appears to have 
been faithful and laborious in his employment, and his services were 
very acceptable to those to whom he ministered." In the summer 
of 1802, Mr. Higgins returned to Western New York, preached 
for a season in different places, and finally accepted a call from the 
church and congregation of Aurelius to be their pastor. He then 
returned to Connecticut, and removed his family to Aurelius, and 
located himself near where the city of Auburn now stands. 
Soon after his return, he was installed pastor of the church and 
congregation. Within a short period after the installation of Mr. 
Higgins, Rev. Hugh Wallis was installed pastor of the church of 
Pompey, East Hill, and Rev. Nathan B. Darrow was ordained and 
installed pastor of the church of Homer. The settlement of these 
pastors was considered as a circumstance of such importance to the 
interests of religion on the Military Tract, that the ecclesiastical 
council convened at Homer for the ordination of Mr. Darrow, 
voted unanimously, " That to gladden the hearts of our Chris- 
tian brethren, with a view of our religious prosperity in this part of 
the country, the Rev. David Higgins make out and forward to the 
Editors of the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, a succinct 
account of the installations at Aurelius and Pompey, and the ordi- 
nation in this place, to be published by them if they see cause." In 
the letter of Mr. Higgins, written in accordance with the above 
resolution, and published in the Magazine, there is contained 
the following statement : — " The Military Grant, so called, in- 
cluded in the counties of Onondaga and Cayuga, is a tract of 
country, about seventy miles in length, and fifty in breadth ; and 
contains probably at present about 30,000 inhabitants, who have 
settled in this country in the course of about twelve years. Before 
the first of October last, there was one respectable minister of the 
Dutch Reformed Church, and a number of Baptist elders settled on 
the Tract : but none of the Congregational or Presbyterian order. 
On the ninth of October I was installed over the church of Christ 
in this town, by a council of Congregational and Presbyterian 
ministers. On the fifth of January last, the Rev. Hugh Wallis was 
installed over the church on the east hill in Pompey. And on the 
second instant, the Rev. Nathan B. Darrow was ordained over the 
church in Homer. 

" In each of these places the churches are respectable for num- 
bers ; their confessions of faith are distinguishing on the doctrines 
of grace ; and they have been unanimous in their calls to their 
respective pastors to settle with them. And the societies in these 
towns have presented competent terms of support to their respec- 
tive ministers. The councils on those ordination occasions were 
harmonious among themselves on the important points of the 
Christian religion ; and in their examinations of the candidates, 



48 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



they entered with precision into their experimental acquaintance 
with the truth and power of religion, as well as into their doctrinal 
knowledge and sentiments in theology. To view the wilderness, 
which lately sat solitary, now become a fruitful field ; to consider 
the yell of beasts and savage men succeeded by the heavenly and 
harmonious praises of God and the Lamb ; to view churches 
formed, ministers settled, and all conducted with religious order, 
peace, and love, must present an animating and grateful prospect 
to the distant beholders. It certainly warms the hearts of those of 
us who have been eye-witnesses of these things. ; The Lord hath 
done great things for us, whereof we are glad.' " This letter is 
dated, " Aurelius, Feb. 14, 1803." In some part of the preceding 
statements, it is believed that Mr. Higgins must have had an ex- 
clusive reference to that part of the Military Tract w T hich lies east 
of the Cayuga lake. Rev. John Lindsley was certainly a resident 
in the town of Ovid previous to October, 1802, and preaching to 
the congregation there. At the meeting of the General Assembly 
in May, 1802, the Presbytery of Oneida was detached from the 
Presbytery of Albany, including all that part of the territory of the 
Presbytery of Albany which lay on the west side of the eastern 
line of the counties of Otsego and Herkimer, including the Rev. 
Messrs. Fish, Lindsley, Dodd, Lewis, and Mr. Chapman, late of the 
Presbytery of New T York, and Mr. Snowden, late of the Presbytery 
of New Brunswick. Mr. Lindsley must have been in Ovid at that 
time, or he would not have been included in this Presbytery. At 
the time of the organization of this Presbytery, there was no 
church in Western New York connected with it. Mr. Chapman 
and Mr. Lindsley were the only ministers of the Presbyterian 
denomination at that time resident on the territory. At a meeting 
of the Presbytery held at Geneva, in the month of June, 1803, 
which meeting the author of this work attended as a corresponding 
member, it is recollected that two or three churches in Western 
New York were represented in Presbytery by their ruling elders. 

The congregational ministers and churches located on the Mili- 
tary Tract were impressed with a sense of the importance, espe- 
cially in their weak and scattered state, of having some bond of 
union among themselves, that they might by greater concert of 
action promote the prosperity of the Redeemer's kingdom. They 
considered that a standing ecclesiastical council, which should have 
jurisdiction over the ministers, to which the churches might resort 
for advice in their difficulties, and which, by frequent meetings, 
might deliberate and decide on measures to be employed in advanc- 
ing the interests of religion, was highly proper. Accordingly, in 
the month of February, 1803, shortly after the ordination of Mr. 
Darrow, at Homer, a meeting of ministers and delegates from the 
churches was held at Skeneateles, for the purpose of taking this 
subject into consideration, and forming an Association, if deemed 



THE MILITARY TRACT. 



49 



expedient. At a subsequent meeting, composed of ministers and 
delegates of churches, held at Marcellus (Nine Mile Creek), in 
January, 1804, the Association was formed, denominated, " The 
Middle Association on the Military Tract and its vicinity the 
term " middle " having a reference to its location, as situated be- 
tween the Oneida Association and the Association of Ontario. The 
ministers who are supposed to have been present on this occasion, 
and to have united in organizing the Association, are Messrs. Hig- 
gins, Wallis, and Darrow, just settled as pastors of churches on the 
Military Tract ; Mr. Williston, then residing at Lisle, in the county 
of Tioga (now Broome) ; Mr. Chapman, of Geneva ; Mr. Jabez 
Chadwick, then ministering to the first church in Milton (now 
Genoa) ; and Mr. Joseph Gilbert, then residing at Pompey. It 
was not at that period considered at all improper for a minister to 
be connected with two ecclesiastical bodies at the same time ; and 
Mr. Chapman, without dissolving his connexion with the Presby- 
tery, became a member of the Association. What churches were 
connected with the Association at its organization is not certainly 
known to the writer. The book of records of the Association is 
lost, or has been mislaid. It is believed that the churches of Aure- 
lius, Skeneateles, Pompey (East Hill), Homer, Genoa first church, 
and Scipio, were of the number. By the constitution, the ministers 
and churches consented to hold themselves amenable to the Asso- 
ciation with regard both to sentiment and conduct, and that they 
would submit themselves to an examination and trial of the same, 
when requested by the Association. 

After the organization of the Association, the number of ministers 
and churches rapidly increased. Prosperity, in a good degree, 
attended the churches. The number of their members was much 
enlarged, and their ability to support the institutions of the gospel 
was more abundant. The Association, as a distinct ecclesiastical 
body, maintained its existence till the beginning of the year 1811, 
when it became merged in the Presbyteries of Cayuga and Onon- 
daga. The ministers who became members of the Association, 
subsequent to its organization, as near as can be ascertained, were 
Rev. Messrs. Joshua Leonard, Hezekiah N. Woodruff, William 
Clark, Levi Parsons, Joshua Johnson, Daniel Loring, Jeremiah 
Osborne, Seth Smith, Elnathan Walker, Andrew Rawson, Royal 
Phelps, Francis Pomeroy, William J. Willcox, and Reuben Hurd. 
Within four or five years from the time of the organization of the 
Association, Mr. Darrow was dismissed and removed to the State 
of Ohio, where he died many years since. The churches which 
have been connected with the Association, in addition to those 
already named, as far as can be recollected, are Locke, Cazenovia, 
Sempronius, Onondaga first church, Otisco, Fabius, Pompey (East 
Hollow or second church), Pompey third church, Manlius, Camillus, 
Brutus, Candor, and German. 

4 



50 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Several of the ministers of the Association became connected 
with the Presbytery of Geneva, at the same time retaining their 
membership in the Association. This was the case with Messrs, 
Higgins, Woodruff, and Chadwick* 



51 

i 



CHAPTER V. 

Territory in Western New York East and South of the Military Tract. Chenango 
Country. The Massachusetts Ten Townships. Governor's Purchase. Col. Linck- 
laen's Purchase. Thomas's Patent : Bingham's Patent : Hooper and Wilson's Pa- 
tent : Coxe's Patent. Extinction of Indian Titles. Settlement of the Country. 
Mission to the Indians at Oquago. Progress of Settlement. Major Buck's Or- 
dination. 

That part of Western New York to which this history relates, 
and which is situated east and south of the Military Tract, com- 
prising the counties of Chemung, Tioga, Broome, Chenango, and 
Madison, has no distinctive name which is common to the whole 
of it. The Military Tract, so called, is a large territory which 
has definite limits and known boundaries. The Genesee country 
is a still larger territory, with boundaries which may be exactly 
described. Of the remaining part of Western New York, the 
central part of it was formerly denominated " The Chenango 
Country ;" or, as it was . commonly pronounced, " Shenang." This 
appellation it received from the Chenango river by which it was 
watered. The name Chenango, by which this river was called, is 
of Indian origin, and signifies in their language "pleasant" river. 
The region of country denominated the " Chenango Country" has 
no definite limits. It may, however, be described as the valley 
which is watered by the Chenango river and its tributaries, nearly 
corresponding with the territory which is now included within the 
counties of Chenango and Broome. The remainder of this part 
of Western New York which lies to the north, south, and south- 
west of the Chenango country, has no distinctive name. This 
portion of the territory of Western New York, including all which 
lies east and south of the Military Tract, was by the authority of 
the State disposed of in comparatively small parcels to different 
individuals and companies. Mention has already been made of the 
Massachusetts ten townships, a tract of 230,400 acres ceded to the 
State of Massachusetts in the settlement of the controversy which 
had existed between the two States. This was a territory extend- 
ing from the Chenango river on the east, to Owego creek on the 
west, and bounded on the south by a line running east and west, 
and lying a short distance north from the present village of Bing- 
ham pton. In the north-east lay the tract denominated the Govern- 
or's Purchase, of twenty townships. These townships are supposed 
to have been six miles square, and the whole Purchase to have 
included 460,800 acres. Between the Governor's Purchase and the 



52 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Military Tract, there was a territory about four and a half miles in 
width, and between thirty and forty miles in length, which, together 
with Township No. 1 of the Governor's Purchase, comprising about 
120,000 acres, was purchased by Col. John Lincklaen, as agent for a 
company in Holland, of which Peter Stadniski, Esq., of the kingdom 
of Holland, was President. This purchase was made in 1792, or 
soon afterwards. It included the present towns of Cazenovia, Nelson, 
and De Ruyter, in the county of Madison, and Lincklaen, Pitcher, 
and German, in the county of Chenango. Prior to the settlements in 
the Chenango valley Col. Hooper was employed, by some indi- 
viduals wishing to purchase land, to explore the country bordering 
on the Susquehannah river, from the Great Bend down to Tioga 
Point. As the result of this survey, the land was purchased on 
both sides of the river through this whole extent. Thomas' Patent 
included the Bend, and extended six miles down the river. Bing- 
ham's Patent commenced where Thomas's terminated, and extended 
two or three miles west from Binghampton, including a width of 
two miles nearly equally divided by the river. On the north of 
this, and bounded by it, was the Massachusetts Ten Townships. 
On the west of Bingham's Patent and adjoining to it, was Hooper 
and Wilson's Patent, of similar width, and lying on both sides of the 
river. This Patent extended west to the line which now divides 
Broome county from Tioga, and embraced a considerable part of 
the present towns of Vestal and Union. It was at a subsequent 
period divided between the two patentees, the line of division 
running through the centre of the church belonging to the Re- 
formed Dutch congregation. To this congregation the two pa- 
tentees, at the division of their property, gave each seventy acres 
of land. Coxe's Patent lay next on the river, and extended several 
miles down the river beyond Owego, and including that place. 
The precise date of these Patents on the river is unknown to the 
writer ; probably it was after the period in which Col. Hooper 
explored the country. 

All the gentlemen to whom these patents were granted were 
citizens of Philadelphia. To whom the remaining portion of terri- 
tory of this part of Western New York was granted is not known 
to the author of these sheets. 

We have stated on a preceding page that the price paid by 
Samuel Brown and his associates to the State of Massachusetts for 
the Ten Townships was 83,333, or $ 1,000 in the currency of the 
State of Massachusetts. The author of the "Annals of Bing- 
hampton" says it was $1,500. The Indian title to this territory, if 
seems, was not extinguished by any of the treaties made by the 
State of New York with the Indian tribes. But very soon after its 
purchase of the State of Massachusetts by the company, Elijah 
Brown, Gen. Oringh Stoddard, Gen. Moses Ashley, Capt. Raymond, 
and Col. David Pixley, were appointed commissioners to treat with 



THE CHENANGO COUNTRY. 



53 



the Indians for the purchase of the territory, which was effected at 
a second meeting with the Indians at the Forks of the Chenango. 
The nominal price which was paid for the territory is not known ; 
but one half of it was paid in cash, the other half in goods, consist- 
ing of rifles, hats, ammunition, blankets, and woollen cloths. 
The Indians reserved for the period of seven years the right of 
hunting on the land ; also, one half mile square as a place of habi- 
tation, near the mouth of Castle Creek. This purchase was proba- 
bly made in 1787. 

The Indian title to a considerable tract lying between the Una- 
dilla and the Chenango rivers, as has already been stated, was ex- 
tinguished in the year 1785 ; and, in 1788, the Oneida tribe sold to 
the State of New York the remainder of their lands respecting 
which this history has any concern. The information which the 
writer has been enabled to glean respecting the early settlement of 
this part of Western New York is imperfect, and undoubtedly 
much that would be interesting cannot now be recalled. After the 
close of the war of the Revolution, and previous to the extinction 
of the Indian title, it is believed that a few families located them- 
selves in the valley of the Susquehannah, a name which in the In- 
dian language signifies long and crooked river. The place called 
Wattles' Ferry, now Unadilla village, was settled at an early period, 
and among the first settlers were the family of Wattles. At this 
place a grist-mill was erected at a very early period. The author 
of the "Annals of Binghampton" speaking of the hardships endured 
by the early settlers of Binghampton and its vicinity, observes: 
" Conveying their grain to mill, which was at first the chief busi- 
ness that took them from home, was performed through the medium 
of canoes upon the river. Their nearest place to get grinding done 
was either at Tioga Point, or rather three miles this side, at Shep- 
herd's Mills, a distance of forty miles ; or else they must traverse 
the distance of seventy miles up the Susquehannah to Wattles' 
Ferry. These jaunts would occupy a week, and sometimes a fort- 
night." Tioga Point, now the village of Athens, is situated a very 
little distance to the south of the line which separates New York 
from Pennsylvania ; but, from its local situation, it seems, in some 
respects, to be more closely allied to New York than to Pennsyl- 
vania. The settlement of the place commenced in the year 1780, 
or about that time. The first settlers were, John Shepherd, Dr. 
Stephen Hopkins, Col. Satterlee, Elisha Matthewson, David Payne, 
and Samuel Payne. The settlement of the town of Windsor com- 
menced in March, 1785. The Indian name of this place was On- 
onghquaga, or Onaquaga, more recently called Oquago.* It was 
a part of the original town of Chenango, which at its organization 
embraced all that part of the present county of Broome which lies 



This name, in the " Life of President Edwards," is spelled Onohquaga. 



54 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



east of the Chenango river. The valley of the Susquehannah at 
this place was formerly the residence of a considerable tribe of 
Indians belonging to the Six Nations. An attempt was made, about 
the middle of the last century, to christianize them, by a society in 
England. To this work they were excited by the representations 
of the venerable President Edwards, then a missionary among the 
Indians at Stockbridge (Mass.). Mr. Gideon Hawley, in company 
with Mr. Woodbridge and Mr. and Mrs. Ashley, set out from 
Stockbridge on the twenty-second of May, 1753, travelling through 
the wilderness, and arrived at Oquago, the place of their destina- 
tion, on the fourth of June, to commence missionary labor among 
the Indians. Mr. Hawley and Mr. Woodbridge had previously 
been teachers of the Indian school at Stockbridge. 

Of Mr. Hawley it is said in the "Life of President Edwards," 
that he was "a young gentleman of liberal education, and of great 
prudence, firmness, and integrity." He was educated at Yale Col- 
lege, and graduated in 1749. He was ordained as a minister of the 
gospel with reference to missionary employment, July 31st, 1734. 
Mrs. Ashley appears to have been employed as interpreter during 
the period of' her continuance. Mr. Woodbridge tarried but a 
short time, and after a season, Mr. and Mrs. Ashley returned to 
Stockbridge. The Indians expressed much satisfaction at the esta- 
blishment of a mission among them. Mr. Hawley must have re- 
turned to the New England States to receive ordination. If so, he 
speedily returned to his missionary station. It was probably on his 
return after his ordination that he took with him the son of Presi- 
dent Edwards, a lad of about nine years of age. He was sent by 
his father with Mr. Hawley, for the purpose of acquiring in the 
most perfect manner, the language of the Indians. This lad was 
afterwards Rev. Jonathan Edwards, D.D., President of Union Col- 
lege, a man distinguished in his day for profound learning, power- 
ful intellect, and ardent piety. Young Edwards continued but 
about a year at Oquago. The war which was denominated the 
French War, was then raging, and a continuance at Oquago was 
deemed too hazardous on account of the incursions of the Indians 
in alliance with the French in Canada. President Edwards, in writ- 
ing to a friend in Scotland, April 10th, 1756, speaking of the state 
of this mission, observes, " There is great danger that Mr. Haw- 
ley's mission and ministry there will be entirely broken up. Mr. 
Hawley came from there about two months ago, with one of my 
sons about ten years old, who had been there with him near a 
twelvemonth, to learn the Mohawk language." It appears from 
this statement that the period of young Edwards' residence at Oqua- 
go was the year 1755. Whether Mr. Hawley returned to Oquago 
after this period is not known to the writer. During the continu- 
ance of his missionary labors at this place, a measure of success 
attended them. General Sullivan's expedition into the Indian coun- 



THE CHENANGO COUNTRY. 



55 



try during the war of the Revolution, broke up this settlement of 
the Indians : nor does it appear that after the war they ever returned 
permanently to reside. 

It has been already stated that the settlement of Windsor (Oqua- 
go) by white people, commenced in 1785. In March of that year, 
Nathan Lane, Esq., John Doolittle, and a Mr. Lamphere lashed 
two canoes together at Wattles' Ferry, and with their families and 
goods proceeded down the Susquehannah to Harpur's Flat, then 
called Scodoret, where they landed for settlement. Soon after 
these came Abel Doolittle, William Moore, John Springsteen, Jacob 
Springsteen, Nathaniel Badger, Lemuel Badger, George Harpur, 
David Hotchkiss, Esq., Elmore Russell, Roswell Higby, John 
Guernsey, Benjamin Bird, James Knox, Isaac Foot, and Ebenezer 
Smith. The most of these were from the State of Connecticut. 
Mrs. Hannah Doolittle, widow of John Doolittle, at the commence- 
ment of the present year (1846), was still living with one of her 
sons in Colesville, aged 91 years, and retaining her faculties in a 
remarkable manner. She is said to have given birth to the first 
white child born in the region. About the same time with the com- 
mencement of the settlement of Windsor, commenced the settle- 
ment of Bainbridge, formerly called Jericho. A correspondent of 
the village of Ninevah, says, " This immediate vicinity was first 
settled nearly sixty years ago, by two or three families of the name 
of Stowell, I think from Connecticut." 

The settlement of Owego commenced in 1785. The name of 
the place is derived from the Owego creek, a name which in the 
Indian language signifies, swift river. James McMaster was the 
first settler together with William Taylor, who was a bound boy 
to McMaster. It is said that these two persons cleared the first 
season, ten or fifteen acres of land, and raised on it a crop of corn. 
A year or two previous to this, Mr. McMaster and Amos Draper 
purchased of the Indians what was denominated a half-township of 
land, containing 11,500 acres, and including the place where the 
village of Owego now stands. Their Purchase was bounded on 
•the south by the Susquehannah river, and on the west by Owego 
creek. Mr. Draper, it seems, did not settle upon this purchase, but 
located himself where Smithborough now stands. Col. David Pix- 
ley, who was one of the commissioners of the Massachusetts Com- 
pany to treat with the Indians, located himself at a very early day 
about a mile west of Owego. He was from the town of Stock- 
bridge (Mass.). Mrs. Pixley is said to have been eminently pious, 
and made her house a home for the early missionaries who occa- 
sionally labored in the vicinity. She died Feb. 2d, 1808. A me- 
moir of her is contained in the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine 
for October, 1808, as given in a sermon preached at her funeral by 
Rev. Seth Williston. 

In the year 1787, Captain Joseph Leonard, who was originally 



56 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



from Massachusetts, removed with his wife and two children from 
Wyoming, in Pennsylvania, in a canoe, up the Susquehannah, and 
located himself near where the village of Binghamton now stands. 
This place, at that period and for many years afterwards, was call- 
ed Chenango Point. Capt. Leonard was the first man who made 
a permanent settlement in the vicinity. In two or three weeks 
after the arrival of Capt. Leonard, came Col. William Rose and 
his brother, from Connecticut, and settled near him, on the Sus- 
quehannah Flats. In the same year came, also, Joshua Whitney, 
General William Whitney, and Henry Green, from Columbia 
county, and settled in the vicinity. The same year and the next, 
several other families moved in. Among them was John Miller, 
Esq., originally from New Jersey, but immediately from Wyoming. 
He was the first magistrate appointed for the settlement ; was a 
member of the Presbyterian Church, and deemed an eminently 
pious man. While the settlement was destitute of a stated minis- 
try, he was in the habit of conducting public worship ; and it is 
said, that he and his daughters practised walking on the Sabbath 
four miles to the place of worship. One serious difficulty in the 
formation of these settlements, was the want of roads. The settlers 
who came from Pennsylvania, uniformly came up the Susquehan- 
nah in canoes or flat-bottomed boats ; those from Connecticut and 
other Eastern . States came, of course, by land till they reached 
the Susquehannah river. From Cattskill westward to the Susque- 
hannah, the whole distance was through a wilderness, or very re- 
cent settlements, through which the road was very little better 
than an Indian trail. A few families lived on the road at consider- 
able distance from each other. The distance between houses was 
often a number of miles. The Messrs. Whitney mentioned above, 
are said to be the first who ever attempted the passage with wag- 
gons from Harpersfield to Franklin, a distance of thirty-five miles. 

The settlement of the present towns of Union and Vestal com- 
menced the same year, or the next, with the preceding. The 
town of Union originally embraced a large territory, including in 
it the present town of Lisle. Major David Barney, who came 
down the river in a canoe with his family from Cooperstown, was 
the first, or one of the first settlers in this place. John Harvey 
and Daniel Harris are mentioned as among the early settlers ; but 
a more prominent character was Gen. Oringh Stoddard, who has 
been mentioned as one of the Commissioners of the Massachusetts 
Company, to treat with the Indians. Near the same time came, 
Nehemiah Spalding and Walter Sabins. 

At the Great Bend of the Susquehannah, but probably within the 
border of the State of Pennsylvania, a settlement was commenced 
in the year 1787, by Major Daniel Buck and his son', Ichabod Buck. 
Jonathan Newman and Jonathan Dimon were very early settlers 
here ; also a Mr. Merriman, Ozias Strong, and Jonathan Bennett, 



THE CHENANGO COUNTRY. 



57 



afterwards a deacon in the Congregational church. Major Buck 
was said to have been a gentleman of good natural abilities, of 
ardent piety, and of ready utterance, having received an education 
somewhat superior to what was common at the period in which he 
lived ; and having manifested a strong desire to be intrusted with 
the ministry of the gospel of Christ, he was ordained to that sa- 
cred office, and installed pastor of the Congregational church at 
the Great Bend, by Rev. Joseph Badger, of Massachusetts. The 
validity of this ordination was by some called in question, as there 
was but one minister to officiate on the occasion. The church 
over which he was installed was organized by Rev. Mr. Stephens, 
of Albany county, in the year 1789. It was the first organized 
church of that denomination in the region. Mr. Buck deceased in 
1814. His ministry, it is believed, was useful to the people of his 
charge, and to the destitute settlement around him. 

Nathaniel Cole was the first settler at Colesville. Judge Harpur 
and Samuel Badger were early settlers in the place ; but at what 
time the settlement was made, the writer is not informed. At the 
place called " The Lower Forks," formed by the junction of the 
Chenango river and the Tioughnioga creek, as that part of the 
Onondaga branch is called after its junction with the Otselic, Tho- 
mas Gallup was the first man who made a settlement. John 
Barker, from whom the present name of the town is derived, was 
the next. He purchased the improvement of Mr. Gallup, who soon 
afterwards left the place. This was about the time of the com- 
mencement of the settlement at Chenango Point. A man whose 
name was Lampeer was the first to settle up the Tioughnioga. 
He located about seven miles up that stream from the Forks. 
General John Patterson, who had been a brigadier-general in the 
war of the Revolution, and who was one of the Massachusetts com- 
pany, located himself at the Upper Forks, or place of junction of the 
Onondaga and Otselic, the place now known as Whitney's Point. 
He was probably next in order of time to Mr. Lampeer. General 
Patterson was a gentleman of liberal education, and of refined man- 
ners, and much employed in public affairs. Mr. Edward Edwards, 
a grandson of the venerable President Edwards, and Major David 
Manning, in 1795, settled somewhat higher up on the Onondaga 
branch. The settlement of the town of Newark, originally called 
Brown's Settlement, commenced by emigrants from Stockbridge, 
Mass., in 1791. The nearest white settlement at that time was at 
Owego, where a few families resided. 

Northward of the present north line of Broome county, the set- 
tlements were of a somewhat later date. The first person who 
located himself in the vicinity of the present village of Green, was 
Conrad Sharpe, of Dutch descent. This was in 1794. . He was 
followed by a number of others of the same origin, and a consider- 
able neighborhood of Dutch inhabitants was formed. The first 



58 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



white inhabitants who located themselves on the site of the village 
were emigrants from France and St. Domingo, seeking a refuge 
from the horrors of the French revolution. The precise period 
when the settlement commenced is not ascertained. The pioneer 
of this company was Simon Barnet, a Creole, from the West Indies. 
M. Dautremont, Charles Felix Boulogne, and Captain Juliand, who 
soon followed, were men of note among them. In order to form a 
proper settlement, they purchased of William W. Morris and Ma- 
lachi Treat, a tract of 30,000 acres of land on the east side of the 
Chenango river. This settlement, however, was not permanent. 
M. Dautremont, who was the financier of the company, was 
drowned on his way to Philadelphia, in the act of fording a river 
on horseback. The land which they had purchased was not paid 
for, and reverted back to the original proprietors. The company 
became discouraged, and its members, with the exception of Cap- 
tain Juliand, removed to other parts. 

Previous to the year 1791, but two white families resided in the 
western part of the township of Fayette, by which name an exten- 
sive region including the present town of Oxford was then known. 
These were of the name of Blackman and Phelps, who located 
within the bounds of the present village of Oxford. The purchase 
by General Hovey, of the tract of land denominated " The Gore," 
and his removal to Oxford in 1791, gave a new and powerful im- 
pulse to the settlement of the place, and the number of inhabitants 
rapidly increased. The settlers were mostly from New England, 
especially from Connecticut. The settlement of the town of Sher- 
burne commenced in 1793, by a colony originally from the town 
of Kent, in the State of Connecticut, but immediately from Duanes- 
burgh, near Albany. Desiring to secure to themselves and their 
posterity in their new home, the institutions of the gospel, they 
associated themselves together in the location, purchase, and divi- 
sion of their lands. Their original purchase was one quarter of 
the present town of Sherburne, through which flows the beautiful 
Chenango. Most of these pioneer settlers removed with their 
families to their new homes in the spring of 1793. 

Mention has been made of the purchase of a large territory, 
comprising 120,000 acres of land, by Col. John Lincklaen for a com- 
pany in Holland. In the spring of 1793, Col. Lincklaen, with Mr. 
Samuel S. Forman as his clerk and assistant, three men from New 
Jersey, and several hired labourers, with teams, proper implements, 
provisions, and merchandise, set out from Old Fort Schuyler (now 
Utica) to commence a settlement upon the land which had been 
purchased the preceding year. On the eighth day of May, they 
arrived at the south end of Lake Owagehega (Yellow Perch), now 
known as Cazenovia lake. Here they commenced their settlement, 
to arrive at which they had been constrained to cut a road for their 
waggons from Chittenango to their place of settlement. This was 



" 4 



THE CHENANGO COUNTRY. 59 

the first settlement on any part of the territory. The survey of the 
purchase was immediately commenced, and simultaneously with it 
the settlement of the lands. To facilitate the settlement, Col. Linck- 
laen had advertised, that the first ten families that moved on to the 
purchase, should be entitled to 100 acres of land each, at the price 
of one dollar per acre, the general price being one dollar and fifty 
cents. The land was sold on a long credit, only a very small 
share of the purchase money being paid in hand. The first ten fami- 
lies, all from the town of Westmoreland, soon moved in, and took 
their locations. Only four of their names are known to the writer. 
These are, Benjamin Pierson, Anson Dean, Noah Taylor, and 
William Gillett. So rapid were the sales of land for a season, that 
the settlers followed the surveyors, and as soon as two sides of a 
lot were ascertained, they would take down the" number and hasten 
to the office to have it booked, and sometimes a person had to name 
several lots before he could get one which had not been engaged a 
few minutes before him. This whole region at that period consti- 
tuted a part of the town of Whitestown ; but, in March, 1795, the 
town of Cazenovia was detached from it, comprising, at its orga- 
nization, the present towns of Lenox, Sullivan, Cazenovia, De Ruy- 
ter, Georgetown, Nelson, Fenner, Smithfield, and part of Stock- 
bridge, in the county of Madison, and German, Lincklaen, 
Pitcher, and Otselic, in the county of Chenango. The first town 
meeting was held in April of that year, at the house of Col. Linck- 
laen, who was elected supervisor of the town. 

Simultaneously with the settlement of Cazenovia, two men, Je- 
didiah Jackson and Joseph Yaw, w r ho were sent by a company in 
Vermont to explore the country with a view to settlement, pro- 
ceeded to No. 1 (now the town of Nelson) and, on their return to 
Vermont, made such a representation of the country, as to encou- 
rage the company to emigrate, and the next year a large number 
of families from Vermont moved on to the township. This town- 
ship was settled mostly by emigrants from Vermont, Massachusetts, 
and New Hampshire. The remainder of the tract purchased by 
Col. Lincklaen, was settled by a more mixed population, but nearly 
all the settlers were from the New England States. As a specimen 
of their intelligence, Mr. Forman states, that during the first four 
years which he continued in the office of clerk, he believes that but 
one man, among the multitude, who took up land at the office, was 
unable to write his name. 

The settlements on the Susquehannah river between Owego and 
Tioga Point (now the village of Athens) commenced soon after the 
settlement of Owego. They were made, it is believed, principally 
by people who came from the east, and entered the region by the 
way of Owego, down the Susquehannah. The settlements up the, 
Chemung river were mostly by emigrants from Wyoming, some of 
whom were originally from Connecticut, or other New England 



60 



WESTERN NEW YOKK. 



States. The name of this river, Chemung, in the Indian language, 
signifies " Big Horn" and derived its name, it is said, from the 
circumstance of a horn of immense size having been found in the 
bed of the river by the Indians, at a former period. The river is 
sometimes called Tioga, sometimes the Chemung — the latter name 
applying to that part of the river only which intervenes between 
Painted Post and the Susquehannah. The settlements up this river 
are of a later date than the settlement at Tioga Point. Ebenezer 
Ellis settled on the river four miles above the Point, Enoch War- 
ner just above the second Narrows, and John Squiers on the oppo- 
side side of the river. Abner Wells located himself at the place 
now called Wellsburgh. Higher up the river, Abraham Miller, 
afterwards first judge of the county, Mr. Culvier, a congregational 
minister, Rufus Baldwin, Judge Caleb Baker, Lebbeus Hammond, 
Esq., John Goff, a Baptist minister, and some others. These settle- 
ments were made as early as the year 1796. In 1788 Col. John Hendy 
located his family two or three miles above the site of the present 
village of Elmira. He was the first settler in the place ; originally 
from New England, afterwards a resident at Wyoming — but im- 
mediately from Tioga Point. The next person who settled in the 
immediate vicinity of Elmira, was John Miller, afterwards First 
Judge of the county of Tioga. The settlements from this period 
progressed rapidly, extended back from the rivers, and at this day 
the inhabitants fill the land. 



61 



CHAPTER VI. 

Difficulties attending the compilation of a Religious History. Different character of 
different Settlements. Organization of a Church in Sherburne. Labors of Mission- 
aries. Dr. Williston located at Patterson's Settlement. Revival. Organization of a 
Church or House of Worship at Union, and Reformed Dutch Church. Rev. Mr. 
Palmer : Rev. Mr. Manly. Church organized at Owego and Jericho. ' Rev. Joel 
Chapin. Church organized in South Bainbridge, in Newark Valley, in Coventry. 
Rev. Joseph Wood : Rev. David Harrowar : Rev. William Stone : Rev. Joel T. 
Benedict : Rev. Seth Sage. Character of the Ministers and Churches in the Che- 
nango County. The Susquehannah Association. Organization of two Churches in 
Sherburne. Rev. Joshua Knight : Rev. Roger Adams. Settlement of Oxford : 
Church organized at Oxford : at Cazenovia. Rev. Joshua Leonard. Church of 
Candor. Newtown. Dr. Amos Parks. Influence of the Revival of 1799. Exer- 
tions of Infidelity. Rev. John Camp. 

We shall now endeavor to lay before the reader something of 
the religious history of that part of Western New York to which 
the preceding chapter refers. And here we find ourselves, to a 
very great extent, encompassed with obscurity. The civil history 
of a comparatively new country is to be found in the archives of 
the State ; in printed or written documents authenticated in the 
surest manner ; in the Statute Laws, and in the records of counties 
and towns. Bat the religious history is mostly unwritten. The 
number of truly pious persons among the first settlers of a new 
country, is in general comparatively small, and in the lapse of fifty 
or sixty years very few of them remain to relate the transactions 
of their early years, and tell what the Lord did for them in the 
wilderness. Thus the memory of past events is irrecoverably lost. 
Our narration must therefore, of necessity, be very imperfect. In 
those settlements which were principally made by emigrants from 
the New England States, morality and a regard for the institutions 
of religion were prevalent traits. The Sabbath was generally 
regarded with respect ; public worship commenced at an early 
period, and opportunities to hear a preached Gospel, whether upon 
the Sabbath or on other days, were eagerly embraced. A corres- 
pondent of the writer in one of the settlements of that description, 
remarks that the early settlers were very punctual in their habits 
of attendance on public worship, coming, some on horseback, some 
in ox-carts, and some on foot. But in many places, especially on 
the navigable rivers, the population was of a less homogeneous 
character, consisting of individuals from very different parts of the 
United States, with foreigners from Europe. Some places were 
notorious for their immoral habits, contempt and neglect of reli- 
gious institutions, prevalence of universalism, or open infidelity. 
Missionaries found small congregations when they visited the 



62 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



people, and their labors seemed to a great extent without fruit. 
Some of these places remained for a long period without religious 
culture, and without public observance of divine worship. 

At what period this part of Western New York began to be 
visited by missionaries, is not certainly known to the writer. In 
the month of July, 1794, a church was organized in Sherburne by 
Rev. Mr. Campbell, who is said to have been a missionary from 
Connecticut. The author does not find the name of any missionary 
appointed that year by the General Association of Connecticut, 
except that of Rev. Moses C. Walch, who entered upon his mission, 
but on account of sickness was unable to perform but a part of the 
service intended. It is not stated where his field of labor was 
situated. The next year, 1795, and the succeeding year, 1796, a 
number of missionaries to the new settlements, for periods of dif- 
ferent duration, were commissioned by the General Association. 
It is stated that they fulfilled their appointments with diligence and 
success. Of one of these missionaries, Rev. Ammi R. Robbins, it 
is stated that on his mission of forty days he preached forty-two 
times, besides the other ministerial offices which he performed. 
Concerning these missionaries, the fields on which their labors were 
expended were not designated. The greater part of them, it is 
believed, were employed upon what were at that period denomi- 
nated the new settlements in the State of New York, whither the 
tide of emigration from Connecticut was pouring. It is hardly to 
be doubted that some of them reached the field which we are con- 
templating. What missionaries were employed in 1797, and the 
former part of the year 1798, is unknown to the writer. In the 
autumn of 1 798, Rev. Walter King performed a missionary tour of 
about two months in the counties of Chenango and Tioga. He 
remarks in his report, " While I have been a preacher, never did I 
enjoy a season in so short a time, of so much Christian satisfaction, 
or of so high a probability of being really useful to the souls of 
men." Occasionally, during the latter part of this year and the 
succeeding one, Dr. Williston visited some of the places within this 
field, on his missionary tour. Mr. Salmon King, a licensed preacher 
of the Gospel, spent the latter part of the year 1799 under a com- 
mission from the Missionary Society of Connecticut, in missionary 
labor in the western part of New York. Without doubt a portion 
of his time was occupied in this field. In the year 1800, the mis- 
sionaries employed by this Society who expended some labor on 
this field, were Dr. Williston, Mr. Bushnell, Mr. Amasa Jerome, 
a licentiate preacher, and Mr. Josiah B. Andrews, also a licentiate 
preacher of the Gospel. In 1801, Mr. Hezekiah May, a licentiate 
preacher, and Rev. David Higgins, all visited this field as mission- 
aries in the service of the Missionary Society of Connecticut. 
This year, in the month of May, Dr. Williston went to the town 
of Lisle, in the county of Tioga (now Broome), to take the pastoral 
charge of the church in that place, and spend three-fourths of his 



ITS EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



63 



time with that congregation, and labor as a missionary the remain- 
ing fourth. For several succeeding years he was employed in this 
manner, laboring as a missionary one-fourth of the time, in the 
service of the Connecticut Society. His missionary excursions 
were extended so as to include the counties of Tioga, Cayuga, 
Onondaga, Chenango, and Broome, together with Luzerne in the 
State of Pennsylvania. 

In the year 1798, this field of missionary effort was visited by 
Rev. Beriah Hotchkin and Rev. Joseph Badger, missionaries in the 
service of the Berkshire and Columbia Missionary Society. They 
did not, however, continue for any considerable length of time upon 
it, but passed on further. This field was probably visited by other 
missionaries, in the service of the same society, during the two or 
three succeeding years ; but the documents to which the writer 
has had access are too indefinite to determine with much certainty. 
In the year 1800 the operations of the Massachusetts Missionary 
Society commenced, and two missionaries, Rev. David Avery and 
Rev. Jacob Cram, were sent to Western New York, and spent 
some time in their employment. But whether they visited this por- 
tion of the field, is not ascertained. 

The missionaries of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
Church were undoubtedly the first to visit this region. At the 
meeting of the Assembly in May, 1790, Rev. Nathan Ker and Rev. 
Joshua Hart were appointed missionaries on the frontier settlements 
of New York and Pennsylvania, for at least three months. Among 
the places visited by them are mentioned, Newtown (now Elmira), 
Unadilla, Chenango (now Binghampton), and Owego. Several 
missionaries were appointed in the next four years succeeding. 
Some of them probably visited and expended some labor on this 
field. In 1795 a number of missionaries were appointed, but their 
fields of labor are not designated. Rev. Daniel Thatcher, who w T as 
one of them, is known to have visited some part of this field. He 
organized a Presbyterian church at Newtown. Probably some of 
the others extended their missions on to this region. The next 
year Mr. Thatcher was appointed a missionary for the term of one 
year, to pursue the route prescribed to him the previous year. 
This appointment he fulfilled. For the year 1797 it does not ap- 
pear that any missionaries were appointed. In the several suc- 
ceeding years to 1801, a number of missionaries were engaged for 
different periods in each year, and whose fields of labor would em- 
brace this territory. The inhabitants of this part of Western New 
York must have received a considerable amount of ministerial aid 
through the labors of the missionaries sent to them by different 
missionary associations. It was, however, but a substitute for a 
better order of things. Many places, especially where the popula- 
tion was very sparse, or the location not contiguous to a general 
rout of travel, were liable to be almost entirely overlooked. And 



64 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



in no place could the itinerant missionary tarry long enough to pro- 
duce any permanent impression, or engage in any systematic course 
of operation. 

The first minister of the gospel of the Congregational order, as 
far as is known to the writer, who came into the Chenango country 
for a permanent residence, was Rev. Seth Williston, who is still 
living, and pretty extensively known to the religious public as Dr. 
Williston of Durham (N. Y.). He was a graduate of Dartmouth 
College, having received his first degree in the year 1791. He 
was a native of the State of Connecticut, and received a license 
to preach the gospel in 1794, probably from the North Association 
of Hartford, in his native State. Mr. Williston came into the 
Chenango country in the month of July, 1796, and located himself 
in what was then called Patterson's Settlement, in the town of 
Union (now Lisle), at the junction of the Otselic Creek with the 
Onondaga, then denominated the " Second Forks of the Chenango." 
In this settlement he commenced preaching the gospel of salvation 
to his dying fellow-men. Mr. Williston, at this period, was only a 
licensed preacher of the gospel, not having yet received ordination. 
But God owned and blessed his labor. The Spirit attended the 
word preached, and made it " the wisdom of God and the power 
of God unto salvation " to some souls in that place. A notice of 
this early revival, together with some interesting information re- 
specting the religious state of the region at that period, is contained 
in a letter, published in the Theological Magazine for 1796. This 
was a work, edited and published in the city of New York, by 
Cornelius Davis. The letter was from Mr. Williston, and was 
addressed to the editor of the Magazine. It is dated, " Settlement 
at the Second Forks of the Chenango, Nov. 25th, 1796." 

The writer of the letter says, " I have been in this wilderness about 
four months. I found a few of the Lord's people here. It was a 
matter of joy to them to have the Gospel preached among them. 
For several weeks past there has appeared a more than common 
solemnity upon the minds of some. Of late that solemnity has evi- 
dently increased. The friends of Jesus are evidently stirred up to 
greater prayerfulness than common. Their hopes are excited, that 
they are. about to see this wilderness spiritually, as well as naturally, 
blossom like the rose. There are several instances of the power 
of grace, which have already taken place among us. Several 
others begin to see themselves to be in a very dangerous and guilty 
state. Numbers are seriously impressed, and begin to think about 
the things of another world. Matters at present look hopeful 
among us. God forbid that it should prove like a morning cloud 
which soon passes away. Let us not despise the day of small 
things, but bless God for every drop of such precious mercies. 
Such a blessing appears more precious in this desert, where there 
are no churches yet formed, and, in general, but little regard paid 



ITS EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



65 



to holy days and holy things. I hear from the mouth of the Una- 
dilla, by a respectable person who belongs to that settlement, that 
there is some special religious attention there." Another letter from 
the same to the same, dated May 27th, 1797, says : " I left Chenango 
the beginning of this month, and expect to return there towards the 
close of the next. The revival of religion, of which I gave you 
some account, last November, continued to wear a pleasing aspect 
when I left Chenango. W e had an agreeable winter. We witnessed 
repeated instances of hopeful conversion. The work has really had 
the appearance of a genuine work of the Spirit of God. I have 
no doubt that some will eternally point back to this as the season of 
their new birth. We hope to see still greater things in that remote 
corner of the earth." 

This second letter was dated from Connecticut, whither Mr. Wil- 
liston had gone to visit his friends, and to receive ordination as an 
evangelist, that he might return to the wilderness with more en- 
larged capacity to promote the interests of the Redeemer's king- 
dom. In the month of June, 1797, he received ordination as an 
evangelist, from the hands of the North Association of Hartford 
county, and soon after returned to his previous field of labor. As 
to the extent of the revival mentioned above, the writer has no de- 
finite information. It, however, prepared the way for the organiza- 
tion of a church, which took place, Dr. Williston says, near the 
close of 1797, or in the beginning of 1798. After Mr. Williston's 
return from Connecticut, he did not confine his labors wholly to the 
congregation at Patterson's settlement. In a letter to the author, 
he observes : " The second year of my labors in this part of the 
State, though I was not yet a missionary, I extended my ministry 
through all parts of the town of Union, which then comprised a 
considerable part of what now makes up the counties of Broome and 
Tioga ; I went to Homer, Locke, Scipio, and Milton (as Genoa was 
then called)." Dr. Williston received an appointment as a mis- 
sionary, from the Missionary Society of Connecticut, immediately 
on the organization of that Society, in the year 1798. His first la- 
bors as a missionary were expended upon the Military Tract ; af- 
terwards, as has been narrated in a preceding chapter, upon the 
Genesee country. In the year 1801, Dr. Williston became sta- 
tionary at Lisle, and was installed pastor of the church in that place. 
From this period till 1809, he continued to minister to the congre- 
gation of Lisle, spending, however, a part of his time in missionary 
labor, in the destitute places in the region around him. Towards 
the close of 1809, he resigned his pastoral charge, and removed 
from Western New York. 

In a letter to the author, Dr. Williston says : " In the town of 
Union, on the banks of the Susquehannah, a little above the mouth 
of the Nanticoke, there was then at my first coming, a small build- 
ing which I believe was put up by the Dutch people in that vicinity 

5 



66 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



as a house of worship, but it had none of the external appearances 
of a sanctuary. I believe it was the only house devoted to the 
worship of God, west of Kortright in Delaware county. A Mr. 
Palmer of the Reformed Dutch Church, ministered at that time in 
this house." It is believed that there was an organized church con- 
nected with this house at that period, but the precise time of its 
organization is not known. This church was merged into the 
Presbyterian church of Union in 1822, having become greatly di- 
minished, in consequence of deaths and removals among its mem- 
bers. A church of the same denomination was organized at Che- 
nango Point (Binghamton), in 1798, through the labors of Rev. Mr. 
Manly, who belonged to the Reformed Dutch Church. The place 
of meeting for this congregation was the attic story of the dwelling- 
house occupied by Mr. Manly, as the residence for his family. 
This place was fitted up with some degree of convenience for a 
place of worship, and was occupied as such for a considerable 
period. The building stood about a mile above the village of Bing- 
hamton, on the east bank of the Chenango river. It has since been 
occupied as a barn. In these two churches Mr. Manly labored for 
some time, preaching alternately in each. After his departure, 
they were for some time destitute of preaching ; but, eventually, 
were again supplied by Rev. Mr. Palmer, under whose labors the 
churches were resuscitated, and somewhat enlarged. What length 
of time Mr. Palmer continued with these churches is not known to 
the writer, nor whether his labors were terminated by death or re- 
moval. The Dutch church at Binghamton held, at least, a nominal 
existence until the organization of the Congregational church in 
1818, when it became merged in that church. Previous to this 
event, a number of the members of the church had removed to 
distant parts, and the church was reduced to a very small number 
of members. 

With the exception of the two Reformed Dutch churches above 
mentioned, the earliest church organizations to which this work has 
reference, were of the Congregational denomination. The inhabit- 
ants were mostly emigrants from the States of Connecticut and 
Massachusetts, where the churches generally were of that order. 
Their first ministers were from the same region, and were con- 
nected with Congregational organizations. Mention has been made 
of the organization of a church at the Great Bend of the Susque- 
hannah river, in 1789, and of the ordination and installation of Rev. 
Daniel Buck, as pastor of the church. Though the residence of Mr. 
Buck was within the limits of Pennsylvania, yet being on its very 
border, it is believed that his labors in a very considerable degree 
were expended upon the settlements in the State of New York, 
adjacent to his residence. On the fifteenth day of August, 1793, a 
church was organized at Oquago (now Windsor), by Rev. Benja- 
min Judd, then a missionary under the appointment of the General 



ITS EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



07 



Assembly of the Presbyterian church, with the assistance of Rev. 
Daniel Buck. This church, at its organization, consisted of seven 
members. Some of the old inhabitants of Windsor say that Rev. 
Mr. Bush was the first missionary who visited that place after its 
settlement by white people. If there was a missionary of that 
name at that early period, the writer has not been able to obtain 
any information concerning him. The next organization of a church 
was probably that of Lisle, of which mention has already been 
made. The precise period of the organization of the church of 
Jericho (now North Bainbridge), is not known to the writer. It 
probably took place soon after the organization of the church of 
Lisle. In this congregation Rev. Joel Chapin labored for some 
time. Then he was ordained to the ministerial office, and at the 
same time, as the writer believes, installed pastor of the church. 
With respect to the period when this event took place, Dr. Williston, 
in a letter to the author, says, " I cannot inform you with certainty 
when Rev. Joel Chapin came to Jericho, I was present at his ordi- 
nation. The Rev. Mr. Badger preached the sermon, I believe it 
was as early as 1799." The Mr. Badger here mentioned, is sup- 
posed to have been Rev. Joseph Badger of Blanford (Mass.). In 
the summer and autumn of 1798 he performed a mission of 90 days' 
continuance in this region of country, under a commission from the 
Berkshire and Columbia Missionary Society. He was not in the 
service of that Society at any subsequent period ; but went as a 
missionary to the State of Ohio, in the employ of the Connecticut 
Missionary Society. This would seem to fix the date of the or- 
dination of Mr. Chapin to the year 1798. , This was, undoubtedly, 
the first ordination of a Congregational minister that ever occurred 
in the region which in this work is denominated Western New 
York ; and no ordination in the Presbyterian denomination occurred 
till some years afterwards. What length of time Mr. Chapin had 
preached at Jericho previous to his ordination is not known to the 
writer ; nor has he been able to ascertain how long he continued to 
minister statedly to that congregation subsequent to his ordination. 
Dr. Williston says of him : " Mr. Chapin was my classmate in 
Dartmouth College; he graduated in 1791, at the age of thirty 
years. He had served in the army in the war of the Revolution. 
He had entered the service of Christ before he entered college. Ill 
health retarded his entrance into the ministerial work ; it also 
shortened the time of his active labors in preaching the gospel. 
But I believe he did good by a holy example as long as he lived. I 
think he died in 1845." Mr. Chapin, it is believed, was peculiarly 
distinguished as a man of fervent piety, and as a peace-maker in 
the church of Christ. For more than twenty of the last years of 
his life he resided in the State of Pennsylvania ; was at first a 
member of the Presbytery of Susquehannah, and on the division of 
that Presbytery, was set off to the Presbytery of Montrose, with 



68 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



which he continued in connexion till the time of his decease. Not- 
withstanding his many infirmities of body and extreme deafness 
during his last years, his life w r as prolonged to an advanced period ; 
but he has gone, as we believe, to the rest of the heavenly state ; 
and his "record is on high." A correspondent speaks of him, as 
" eminently useful in transacting ecclesiastical business, and in re- 
conciling difficulties among brethren." 

A church in South Bainbridge was organized, in 1802, by Rev. 
Daniel Buck. It was composed of members from the North 
church, or church of Jericho. Its history is not known to the 
writer, except that it has become extinct, leaving a large house of 
worship, which is now unoccupied except when occasionally used 
by the Universalists, or for a funeral occasion. The church of 
Newark Valley, originally denominated Brown's Settlement, was 
organized Nov. 17, 1803, by Rev. Seth Williston and Rev. James 
W, Woodward, missionaries from the Connecticut Missionary 
Society. It consisted at its organization of six members, of whom 
four were males and two females. On the Sabbath succeeding its 
organization, four members were added to the original number. 
This church has been a prosperous church down to the present 
time. In 1807, a church was organized in Coventry by Rev. David 
Harrowar, then residing in the county of Delaware. This church 
at its organization consisted of fourteen members, all of whom had 
been previously connected with some evangelical church. The 
next year a revival took place, which added twenty-four members 
to the church. The same year Rev. Joseph Wood commenced 
laboring with this congregation, and continued his ministry with 
them during the two succeeding years. With the history of Mr. 
Wood the writer is very imperfectly acquainted. Whether the 
commencement of his labors in Coventry was the commencement 
of his residence and preaching in Western New York is not known. 
On the sixth of March, 1816, he was installed pastor of the two 
churches in the town of Windsor, but his health having failed, he 
was dismissed from his pastoral charge, Sept. 19th, 1819, though 
he continued to officiate as moderator in the business meetings of 
the churches until the year 1826. During a number of the last 
years of his life he resided in Pennsylvania, and became a member 
of the Presbytery of Susquehannah, and, on the division of that 
Presbytery, became a member of the Presbytery of Montrose. He 
was esteemed as a good man, but, on account of ill health, it is 
believed, was unable, during many years, to preach much. He 
died, as the writer believes, in 1836, or the succeeding year. 

Mention has been made of Rev. David Harrowar. He was not, 
at this early period, a resident of what in this work is denominated 
Western New York, but lived in the near vicinity, in the county 
of Delaware. His ecclesiastical connexion was with the Northern 
Associated Presbytery in the State of New York. Living in the 



ITS EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



69 



immediate vicinity, he often labored on this field, assisted in or- 
ganizing churches, in ordaining and installing ministers, and per- 
forming, to a greater or less degree, the various duties of a Christian 
evangelist. To some extent he was employed as a missionary on 
this part of the field ; first under a commission from the Columbia 
and Berkshire Missionary Society, and afterwards in the employ 
of the Connecticut Missionary Society. It is believed that his 
labors were useful in this part of the vineyard. For about twenty 
years past he has resided in the county of Steuben, and preached 
to different congregations in Western New York and Northern 
Pennsylvania. Rev. William Stone is also mentioned in connexion 
with the history of the churches in this region, as preaching in 
different places. He is said to have preached at times at Windsor, 
during the period which intervened between 1791 and 1795. The 
writer does not know that he ever resided on this territory, but be- 
lieves that his residence was in the county of Otsego adjoining. 
Mr. Stone was a native of Guilford, in the State of Connecticut. 
During the war of the Revolution he served as a soldier in the 
army. Subsequently he entered as a student in Yale College, and 
graduated in 1786. He was licensed to preach by the Association 
of New Haven, and subsequently ordained to the ministerial office. 
At a pretty early period he came out into Central New York : the 
writer believes that he resided in the county of Otsego. At a later 
period he removed to Sodus in the county of Wayne, where he 
died a number of years since, at an advanced age. He has preached 
in different places ; but, as the writer believes, was never regularly 
installed as the pastor of any church. The name of Rev. Joel T. 
Benedict occurs as an early occasional laborer on this part of the 
moral vineyard. His residence was in the town of Franklin, county 
of Delaware, where for a number of years he had a pastoral charge, 
and was eminently successful in his ministry. He was indefatigable 
in his labor, and frequently preached and performed other minis- 
terial duties in the Chenango country. At two different periods, at 
least, he officiated as a missionary on this field, under a commission 
from the Connecticut Missionary Society. On one of these occa- 
sions he organized the church of Norwich, consisting of twenty 
members. This event occurred in the month of June, 1814. Mr. 
Benedict was the son of a clergyman, and in early life studied the 
law, and for a peilod was a practitioner in that profession in the 
State of Connecticut. But when his heart became imbued with 
the grace of God, he relinquished the profession of the law, and 
directed his attention to the ministerial office, and after some time 
of preparation was licensed to preach, and subsequently ordained 
to the work of the Christian ministry. His first settlement as a 
stated pastor, it is believed, was at Franklin ; afterwards at Chat- 
ham, Columbia county. Death removed him from the labors of 
this life a number of years since. Rev. Seth Sage was one of the 



i 



70 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



early ministers of this region. He came into the town of Windsor 
and located himself on a farm in 1800. He supplied the congre- 
gation of Windsor, and preached frequently in the region on the 
Susquehannah river, and in Randolph, from 1800 to 1807. Respect- 
ing his history the writer is not informed of any other particulars. 

The ministers of whom mention has been made as located in the 
Chenango country and its vicinity, were at that period of the Con- 
gregational denomination, strictly Calvinistic in their doctrines, and 
highly evangelical in their preaching. The churches which they 
formed, and over which they presided, were of similar views, and 
tenacious of what they denominated their Congregational privi- 
leges. The inhabitants of the country were generally emigrants 
from the New England States. The professors of religion among 
them had been members of Congregational churches in New Eng- 
land. They would naturally, in organizing churches in the wilder- 
ness to which they had emigrated, wish to be formed on the model 
to which they had been accustomed. In this respect the ministers 
and churches were entirely harmonious. For a considerable period 
no Presbyterian church, strictly so called, existed in the Chenango 
country, and no minister of that denomination had located himself 
on the territory. The writer knows of no exception to this remark, 
unless it should be thought that the Reformed Dutch churches at 
Chenango Point and Union, with their ministers, constitute an ex- 
ception. As the churches and ministers were harmonious in their 
views of gospel doctrine and order, it was judged expedient for 
their mutual edification, and to enable them more effectually to 
promote the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, to organize an 
association to be composed of ministers, and lay-delegates of the 
churches, which should meet statedly, and constitute a bond of union 
between the ministers and churches, and be a standing ecclesias- 
tical council for advice and assistance to the ministers and churches 
in their various difficulties. Accordingly an association was formed, 
which took the name of " The Susquehannah Association." This 
association embraced the ministers and churches in the Chenango 
region, together with some who were located further east, and 
some in Pennsylvania. The author has not been able to ascertain 
with any certainty, the date of the organization of this Association, 
nor what ministers and churches were connected with it. The 
author of the Annals of Binghampton says that Dr. Williston was 
installed pastor of the church of Lisle, in October, 1803, and that at 
the time of his installation, the council organized what was then 
called " The Susquehannah Association, taking in some of the 
Northern Counties of Pennsylvania." Dr. Williston says, that the 
organization of the Association must have been about the beginning 
of the present century. The ministers recollected by him who were 
members at the organization, besides himself, were, — Rev. Joel 
Chapin, Rev. David Harrowar, Rev. Seth Sage, and Rev. William 



ITS EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



71 



Stone. The churches where the ministers resided, and some others, 
were associated in this ecclesiastical organization. Rev. Hiram 
W. Gilbert of Windsor, in a letter to the author, says, — " I will 
here volunteer one remark in regard to the earliest ecclesiastical 
body, of which I have any information : there appears to have 
been an organization for the accommodation of churches in the 
county of Chenango and its vicinity, as early as 1801. According 
to records found in an old church-book, the first meeting of this asso- 
ciation, that afterwards received the name of 'The Susquehannah 
Association,' was held at the house of Rev. Joel Chapin, in Jericho. 
Ministers present : Rev. Joel Chapin, Jericho ; Rev. David Har- 
rowar, "Walton ; Rev. Seth Williston, Lisle ; Rev. Hugh Wallis, 
Solon. With these, there were also ten delegates. They had to 
travel no inconsiderable distance through a new and rough country, 
to attend their ecclesiastical meetings." A letter dated February 
25th, 1802, which the author received from his father, who was at 
that time pastor of the Congregational church of Greenville, county 
of Greene, speaks of a ministerial conference which had been held 
"at Franklin, county of Delaware, a few days previous to the date of 
the letter. The writer says, — " There were present, Messrs. Stone, 
Fenn, Harrowar, Buck, Williston, Chapin, and myself. The meet- 
ing was carried on very agreeably, but an association was not 
formed, as there were but two ministers proposing to join, who 
were settled men — Mr. Harrowar and Mr. Chapin. They agreed 
to keep up a conference of ministers and churches, and for that 
purpose examined the Confessions of Faith and Covenants of a 
number of churches, to see if they could agree to walk in fellow- 
ship with each other, and appointed another meeting at Oquago next 
October." The convention spoken of in the foregoing extract, was 
held with a reference to the organization of the Susquehannah As- 
sociation. Of the ministers present in the convention, Mr. Hotch- 
kin of Greenville, and Mr. Fenn of Harpersfield, were entirely with- 
out the proper bounds for the Association, and entertained no idea 
of uniting with it. They were members of the Northern Associated 
Presbytery. The others, all of them, it is believed, eventually be- 
came members of the Association. Comparing these several state- 
ments with each other, it is probable that the Association was 
organized in the latter part of the year 1802, or in 1803 ; that the 
ministers mentioned by Dr. Williston were those who composed 
it at the time of organization, to whom others were afterwards 
added ; and that the meeting mentioned by Mr. Gilbert as the first 
meeting, was not the meeting at which the organization took place., 
but probably the first meeting subsequent to the organization. 

This was the-first organization of the kind in this region of coun- 
try, and no doubt its influence was salutary in promoting unity 
among the ministers and churches of which it was composed. It 
continued to operate a number of years. Dr. Williston says it was 



72 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



in existence in 1809, when he left the country. In the month of 
July, 1811, the author of this work attended a meeting of delegates 
from different congregational bodies in the State of New York, 
with a view to the formation of a General Association for the State. 
This meeting was convened at Clinton, town of Paris, in the county 
of Oneida. There were present commissioners from the following 
organized bodies, viz. — The Northern Associated Presbytery, the 
Oneida Association, the Black River Association, the Ontario Asso- 
ciation, the Union Association, the Luzerne Association, and another 
organization (the name is not remembered) existing in the county 
of Saratoga and its vicinity. At this meeting it was announced, 
that the Susquehannah Association had become extinct, and that the 
churches and ministers that had composed it generally had con- 
nected themselves either with the Union Association or the Luzerne 
Association. It has been stated to the writer, that a principal rea- 
son for suffering this Association to expire, was a peculiarity in the 
Constitution, requiring as a quorum for the transaction of business, 
that there should be present a majority of all the ministers belonging, 
to the body — together with lay-delegates from a majority of all the 
churches in connexion with it. In consequence of this requisition, 
it is said, that there was frequently at the appointed meetings a 
failure of a quorum, and tjiat in this way the Association at length 
became extinct. 

Northward of the Massachusetts ten townships, the settlements 
generally were of a somewhat later date, and of course the organi- 
zation of churches. The settlement of the town of Sherburne, as 
has already been stated, commenced in the spring of 1793. The 
pioneer settlers of this town were pious characters, and members of 
the congregational church. The second Sabbath after their arrival 
public worship was set up, which has been regularly continued 
ever since. In July, 1794, a church was organized consisting of 
seventeen members. They were, however, destitute of the stated 
preaching of the gospel for a number of years, and in 1802 the 
church was divided and a second church formed. The cause of 
this division of the church was a disagreement respecting the loca- 
tion for a house of worship. The second church soon after its or- 
ganization erected a house of worship, and settled Rev. Joshua 
Knight as their pastor, who continued in that station till 1823. The 
first church, in 1806, settled Rev. Roger Adams as their pastor. 
His continuance with them was for about three years. 

The settlement of the town of Oxford commenced in 1791. In 
17SP1, an Academy was incorporated in that town by the Regents of 
the University : a building was erected, and the Academy actually 
went into operation the same year. In the Academy building, the 
gospel was preached by the Rev. Uri Tracy, the principal of the 
Academy, and by travelling missionaries who occasionally visited 
the place. Soon after Rev. John Camp was employed to preach 



ITS EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



7-0 



alternately at this place, and at Norwich, and continued his minis- 
try in this manner for seven or eight years. He is said to have 
been a missionary, but no such name is to be found on the list of 
the missionaries of any Society which at that period sent its mis- 
sionaries to Western New York. It was not uncommon at that 
•period to speak of every travelling minister as a missionary. In 
1799, a church was organized by the name and style of " The First 
Congregational Church of Oxford." The church must have been 
small at its organization, as at the time of the settlement of its first 
pastor, Rev. Eli Hyde, in June, 1808, it consisted of about twenty 
members only. The settlement of Cazenovia, as has been related, 
was commenced by Col. John Lincklaen in 1793, and progressed 
with rapidity. During several years no stated preaching was en- 
joyed. Missionaries and itinerant preachers afforded a partial sup- 
ply. But in the year 1799, Rev. Joshua Leonard from Ellington 
(Conn.) removed into the place, and was employed to preach to the 
inhabitants. Soon after his arrival he sought out and collected to- 
gether the few professors of religion in the vicinity with a view to 
their being organized into a church. The organization of the 
church took place on the seventeenth day of May, 1799, and on the 
sixth day of June of the same year Mr. Leonard was installed as 
their pastor. The church at its organization was composed of nine 
members including Mr. Leonard, who united as a member, in ac- 
cordance with the practice then prevalent in some parts of the New 
England States. These churches were all organized Congrega- 
tional churches. They were, as far as is known to the writer, the 
earliest church organizations in this part of the country. 

As it respects the territory south of the Military Tract, the set- 
tlement of the town of Candor commenced in 1795 by emigrants 
from the town of Berlin (Conn.). Public worship was commenced 
before 1800, and with short intervals only has been continued ever 
since. A church was organized by Rev. Seth Williston and Rev. 
Jeremiah Osborne, June 29th, 1808. It consisted of nine members. 
Their first pastor was Rev. Daniel Loring, who was settled in 1810, 
and dismissed in 1816. 

It has been stated that Rev. Daniel Thatcher, in 1795, organized 
a Presbyterian church at Newtown (Elmira). After the organiza- 
tion of the church, a physician, Doctor Amos Parkes, under a 
license to preach from the Morris County Associated Presbytery, 
was employed to preach for a season. He did not, however, con- 
tinue in this employment long, but renounced his Christian profes- 
sion, and became an apostle of infidelity, and a ringleader in 
wickedness. At a subsequent period, he manifested deep repent- 
ance for his apostasy, returned to the church, and conducted 
like a consistent Christian. After Dr. Parkes, a Mr. Brown, from 
Massachusetts, was employed to preach for a season. Whether 
Mr. Brown was an ordained minister, or a licentiate preacher, is 



74 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



not known to the writer. He embraced the sentiments of the 
Unitarians. After Mr. Brown, Rev. John Smith, from Dighton 
(Mass.), preached in the village for a season. For what length of 
time these individuals respectively preached, cannot now be ascer- 
tained ; nor with respect to the two last, at what period they offi- 
ciated. Their ministrations, however, were concluded previous to 
the commencement of the year 1805. 

To what extent the revival of 1799 and 1800 affected the Che- 
nango country, and the county of Tioga, the writer has not the 
means of determining. The revival was felt in this region, but it 
is supposed that it was by no means as great as in the region fur- 
ther west, or in that which lay to the east. The counties of Dela- 
ware and Otsego were powerfully affected by it. So also was the 
county of Oneida, which lay to the north. It was a general shak- 
ing of the valley of dry bones. God manifested himself in his 
glory in building up Zion. The tide of infidelity which was setting 
in with so strong a current, was rolled back, and Western New 
York was delivered from the moral desolation which threatened it. 
The general prosperity, the religious order, the benevolent and 
literary institutions, which constitute the glory and happiness of 
this section of country, it cannot be doubted, are, in no incon- 
siderable degree, attributable to the change produced in the cur- 
rent of public sentiment, as the consequence of this extended 
revival of religion. The year 1798 is an era which should long 
be remembered in Western New York, as giving a character to 
this part of the State, which laid a foundation for its large prosper- 
ity, and improvement in all things useful. 

But though infidelity had received a check, it is not by any means 
to be supposed that it had become extinct. The power of God had 
been manifested in the conversion of some souls. The reality of 
religion, and its hcjy nature, had been exhibited, and the glory of 
the gospel had been set before the eyes of mankind, in the exhibi- 
tions of its transforming power on the hearts and lives of those who 
embraced it ; but many hated the light, and refused to come unto 
the light, because their deeds were evil. The spirit of infidelity 
lived in many hearts, and the open profession of it was not unfre- 
quent, even on the part of many who were persons of high standing 
in civil life. Opposition to the gospel was manifested in every 
variety of form. The truths of the gospel were assailed, the insti- 
tutions of the gospel were opposed, and the ministers of the gospel 
in their labor were counteracted in many ways. At the settle- 
ment of Dr. Williston as pastor of the church of Lisle, this spirit of 
opposition to the gospel was exhibited in a most glaring manner. 
A number who had called themselves Members of the Religious 
Society, opposed his settlement as their minister, purely, as is be- 
lieved, on the ground of their opposition to the humbling truths, of 
the gospel exhibited by him in his preaching. To such an extent 



ITS EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



75 



was this opposition carried by them, that after the settlement of 
Dr. Williston, a number of them withdrew from his ministry, and 
employed Mr. John Camp to officiate as their minister. This Mr. 
Camp had once been an authorized minister of the Gospel, but at 
this period had been deposed from the ministry, and excommuni- 
cated from the church on the ground of habitual drunkenness. He 
was an educated man, a graduate of Yale College, having received 
his first degree in 1777. He entered the ministry, and was settled 
as pastor of the Congregational church in New Canaan, county of 
Columbia, over which he retained his pastoral supervision till about 
the commencement of the present century. He is represented as 
having been a speaker of ready utterance, and popular in his man- 
ner of preaching. He was very acceptable to a large portion of 
his hearers. He made himself very familiar with all sorts of his 
parishioners, and was no doubt bland in his conversation. But the 
pious of the flock were not fed. They complained that they were 
put off with bare generalities, and that nothing calculated to alarm 
the conscience of the sinner was exhibited, and that on funeral 
occasions the most fulsome flattery was employed in depicting the 
character of the deceased. Previous to Mr. Camp's dismission 
from his pastoral charge at New Canaan, it was known to some of 
his parishioners, that he had contracted habits of intemperance in 
the use of intoxicating liquors, and that he was sometimes seen to 
be disguised with drink. It was not, however, a matter of public 
notoriety, and he was dismissed from the people of his charge as a 
minister in good standing. In 1802, he removed to the Chenango 
country, and located himself near where now is the village of 
Binghampton. His intemperate habits increased upon him, and in 
a short time he became a notorious drunkard. Being removed to 
such a distance from the ecclesiastical body, the Northern Asso- 
ciated Presbytery, which had jurisdiction over him, it was compa- 
ratively late before an investigation of his character was held. 
This, however, at last took place, and on the strongest evidence of 
guilt, he was deposed from the ministry, and excommunicated from 
the church of Christ. This event, the writer believes, took place 
in the early part of 1806. Notwithstanding his intemperate habits, 
and his deposition from the ministerial office, he continued to preach 
when any would employ him ; and it is believed that he obtained 
a considerable employment in this way for a number of years after 
his ministerial standing and habits of inebriation were generally 
known. It was subsequent to his deposition that he was employed 
in Lisle in opposition to Dr. Williston. In concluding this article, 
the writer is happy in being able to say, that Mr. Camp, near the 
close of his life, manifested a deep sense, not only of the degrada- 
tion and wretchedness, as it respects this world, which he had 
brought upon himself, but also of his exceeding sinfulness in the 
sight of God. Pious people deemed the evidence of his penitence 



76 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



satisfactory. Mr. Camp expressed a strong desire to be restored 
to a standing in the visible church of Christ, and to be permitted 
again to commemorate the Saviour's dying love. On his humble 
confession of his sin, connected with a favorable representation of 
his case from Rev. Benjamin Niles, pastor of the church of Bing- 
hampton, the Presbytery removed from him the sentence of excom- 
munication, and restored him to the fellowship of the church ; but 
before the information of this act could reach the ear of Mr. Camp, 
he was called from this world to have his case adjudicated before 
a higher tribunal, where, we trust, that through the mercy of God, 
and the merits of a Saviour's blood, he was accepted as a penitent 
believer, and is now rejoicing before the throne of God, 



77 



CHAPTER VII. 

State of the Country in 1800. Territory West of Genesee River. Joseph Eliicott : 
effectof his influence. Scotch Settlement at Caledonia. Organization of a Church. 
Rev. Alexander Denoon. Division of the Presbytery of Albany. Organization of 
the Synod of Albany Presbytery of Geneva constituted. Rev. David Higgins and 
Rev. Hezekiah N. Woodruff became Members of the Presbytery. Are to have 
pious and orthodox Ministers. Strictness in examining Members for the Church. 
Proposal of a union of the Middle Association with the Synod of Albany : plan of 
Union proposed by Synod : approved by the General Assembly. Union consum- 
mated. Presbytery of Geneva and Middle Association constituted three Presbyteries, 
Geneva, Cayuga, and Onondaga. Synod of Geneva constituted. Plan of union 
considered as establishing a general principle. Adopted as such in other parts of 
the Presbyterian Church. Difference between Churches received on the accommo- 
dating plan, and strictly Presbyterian Churches. 

In the preceding chapter we have brought down the history of 
Western New York to the commencement of the present century, 
or a little later. In the year 1800, the number of inhabitants, ex- 
clusive of Indians, was near sixty-three thousand, The number of 
churches of the Presbyterian and Congregational denominations 
was small, and the number of ministers still less. The missionary 
aid received was very inadequate to the supply of the wants of the 
scattered and destitute population. But though the inhabitants 
were dispersed over an extensive territory, and in many instances 
few in a place, still it was a fact that very large portions of con- 
tiguous territory were an entire wilderness, utterly destitute of in- 
habitants. The Holland Purchase was yet a waste. But few 
families were settled west of the Genesee river. The large county 
of Steuben contained less than two thousand inhabitants, and much 
of the Military Tract was a complete forest, or but sparsely settled. 
But from this period the settlement of the country progressed with 
accelerated rapidity. The Indian title to the whole country had 
become extinct, with the exception of comparatively small reserva- 
tions. The vast tract purchased by the Holland Land Company 
had been surveyed, or was in the course of being surveyed, into 
townships and lots convenient for settlement, and inhabitants were 
rapidly moving in on the Holland Purchase and in other parts. In 
the year 1810, the number of inhabitants had increased to nearly 
two hundred and twenty thousand. As new settlements were 
formed, and the number of inhabitants increased, new churches 
were formed, missionary operations were enlarged, and a greater 
number of ministers located themselves in the country, and became 
settled pastors. Encouragement was given by some of the large 



78 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



landholders or companies for the formation of religious societies, 
by promises of land to the first regularly incorporated religious 
society which should be organized in a township. Such a promise 
for one hundred acres of land was made by Col. Robert Troup, the 
principal agent of the Pulteney Estate, with a view to induce 
settlers to locate on the estate. A similar promise was made by 
the Holland Land Company, whose principal agent was Joseph 
Ellicott. These promises, however, in but a very few instances 
were fulfilled. A small number of Presbyterian or Congregational 
churches obtained lots, and perhaps a few others, but the number 
was small. Mr. Ellicott disregarded the Sabbath, and was hostile 
to religious institutions.' His influence had an unfavorable effect 
upon the religious state of the Holland Purchase ; and, for a period 
after the settlement of that part of the Genesee country commenced, 
it was a common observation, that Sabbath-day did not extend 
westward beyond the Genesee river. To this very frequent obser- 
vation, there w T as at least one very noted exception. This was the 
Scotch settlement of Caledonia. This settlement was commenced 
about the year 1800 by emigrants from Scotland. Finding their 
situation agreeable, they communicated their views to their friends 
in Scotland. Others were induced to emigrate and join them, and 
in a short time a considerable settlement was formed. These 
settlers were all Presbyterians of the Kirk of Scotland, and brought 
w ; ith them and sustained the habits in which they had been trained 
from infancy, particularly their strict regard for the Sabbath and 
other religious institutions. A Presbyterian church was here or- 
ganized on the fourth day of March, 1805, by Rev. Jedidiah Chap- 
man, missionary of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
Church. The following is an extract from his journal : — " Lord's 
Day, March 3d. — I preached in Caledonia in a large school-house, 
which was full, and large numbers out of the door. The people 
are chiefly Highlanders from Scotland ; they appeared not only 
decent and attentive, but very solemn. They expressed a desire, 
if I thought proper, to be organized as a Presbyterian church. I 
then appointed a conference on Monday for that purpose. 

"Monday. — The people met. Conference opened with prayer. 
After giving an exhortation on the occasion, proceeded to receive 
and examine certificates. Numbers of them were produced from 
various parts of Scotland, and approved. Several persons were 
examined who had never joined the church and approved, and 
some, who were not approved, but desired to wait in the use of 
means till another opportunity. Matters being thus prepared, I 
then proceeded to organize them. They solemnly adopted the 
Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church, and the Directory 
for Church Government and Discipline. They solemnly covenanted 
to walk together in all the ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ, 
as a church of Christ in the Presbyterian order. They chose three 



FORMATION OF PRESBYTERIES. 



79 



elders, two of whom were to officiate as deacons. — After sermon, 
proceeded to ordain the deacons and elders. These people ap- 
peared to be very sensibly affected, and very thankful to me for 
coming among them, to the General iVssembly for their care, and 
to the great Head of the Church for these privileges and blessings 
in the wilderness. They also engaged to keep up the public wor- 
ship of God on the Lord's Day among themselves, until it should 
please the Lord to send them a gospel minister." 

This church became attached to the Presbytery of Geneva in 
1806. At the same time Mr. Alexander Denoon, a young gentle- 
man from Scotland, who had received his education at the Uni- 
versity of Aberdeen, was licensed to preach the gospel, he having 
passed through all the parts of trial required by the constitution of 
the Presbyterian Church, satisfactorily to the Presbytery. Mr. 
Denoon was immediately upon this employed to preach in the 
church of Caledonia, and on the seventeenth day of August, 1808, 
was ordained and installed pastor of the church, a station which 
he has continued to hold till the present time. The church of 
Caledonia was the first church of the Presbyterian order which 
was organized in the State of New York west of the Genesee 
river, and the ordination and settlement of Mr. Denoon was the 
first case of the kind which occurred in that region. 

At the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
Church in 1802, the Presbytery of Albany, which then contained 
but fourteen ministers, was divided into three Presbyteries, viz. 
the Presbytery of Albany, the Presbytery of Columbia, and the 
Presbytery of Oneida. This latter Presbytery embraced alj the 
territory in the State of New York west of the east line of the 
counties of Otsego and Herkimer, including the Rev. Messrs. Fish, 
Lindsley, Dodd, and Lewis of the Presbytery of Albany, and Mr. 
Chapman of the Presbytery of New York, and Mr. Snowden of 
the Presbytery of New Brunswick. Mr. Chapman and Mr. Linds- 
ley resided in Western New York, the others on territory further 
east. No church in Western New York was at this period con- 
nected with the Presbytery. The next year these Presbyteries 
were constituted a Synod, to be known by the name of the Synod 
of Albany. At the meeting of the General Assembly in 1805, the 
Presbytery of Oneida was divided, and the Presbytery of Geneva 
was erected. Its eastern boundary was the western line of the 
counties of Oneida and Chenango, and it included all that part of 
Western New York which lies west of that boundary. The 
ministers who composed it were, Rev. Jedidiah Chapman of Gene- 
va, Rev. John Lindsley of Ovid (now Covert), Rev. Samuel Lea- 
cock of Gorham (now Hopewell), and Rev. Jabez Chadwick of 
Milton (now Genoa). 

The churches connected with the Presbytery at the time of its 
organization, were Ovid, Geneva, Geneseo, Ulysses 1st, Ulysses 2d, 



80 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Seneca, Junius, and Gorham. The church of Ovid was located 
within the limits of the present town of Covert. Rev. John 
Lindsley was its pastor. In 1808 it was dismissed from its relation 
to the Presbytery, to connect with a classis of the Reformed Dutch 
Church. The church of Geneseo is the present church of Lake- 
ville ; the first church of Ulysses, now Trumansburgh ; the second 
church of Ulysses, now Ithaca ; the church of Seneca located 
where the village of Ovid now stands, denominated the church of 
Ovid ; the church of Junius, now Seneca Falls ; and the church of 
Gorham, now Hopewell. The church of Geneva retains its original 
name. In accordance with the appointment of the General Assem- 
bly, the Presbytery met at Geneva on the seventeenth day of Sep- 
tember, 1803, and was opened with a sermon by Rev. David Hig- 
gins, of Aurelius, and was constituted with prayer by Rev. Jedidiah 
Chapman. The ministers of the Presbytery who were present on 
this occasion were Messrs. Chapman, Lindsley, and Chadwick. 
The author is not certain whether Mr. Leacock had deceased pre- 
vious to this meeting for organization, or whether his death occurred 
a short time afterwards. The ruling elders who were present as 
members of the Presbytery, were Stephen Voorheis, Oliver Wet- 
more, Daniel Kelly, Jabish Havens, Henry Beers, Abial Fry, and 
John McMath. At this meeting of the Presbytery, Rev. Garritt 
Mandeville, from the classis of Ulster of the Reformed Dutch 
Church, was received as a member of Presbytery, on his producing 
testimonials of his regular standing in the classis, and of his regular 
dismission and recommendation, he at the same time declaring his 
belief in the Articles of Faith, and his approbation of the govern- 
ment and discipline of the Presbyterian Church. The church of 
Newtown and Chemung, and the church of Romulus, were received 
under the care of the Presbytery. Dining the meeting the follow- 
ing question was discussed and answered in the affirmation, viz. — 
" Can the Presbytery consistently receive as a constituent member 
of their body a minister belonging to an Association, without his 
discontinuing his connexion w r ith the Association 1 " After the 
decision of this question, Rev. David Higgins, and Rev. Hezekiah 
North Woodruff, members of the Middle Association, on their re- 
quest, were received as members of the Presbytery, they having 
expressed their approbation of the Confession of Faith and form ot 
government of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Higgins was the 
pastor of the church of Aurelius, and Mr. Woodruff the pastor of 
the church of Scipio. The affirmative decision of this question 
seems to have been in accordance with the general sentiments en- 
tertained in the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches of that 
day. The records of the Presbytery were approved by the 
Synod on review, and the principle was considered as established. 
At the present time it would probably be considered by most ec- 
clesiastical bodies as an incorrect decision. But whether the deci- 



FORMATION OF PRESBYTERIES. 



81 



sion of this question by the Presbytery was correct or otherwise, it 
undoubtedly laid the foundation for the preponderance of the Pres- 
byterian interest, which eventually prevailed in Western New 
York. 

The special care which was taken in the early settlement of 
Western New York by all the existing ecclesiastical judicatories 
of the Presbyterian and Congregational denominations, that none 
but pious and orthodox men should preside over the churches, may 
be seen in a resolution adopted by the Presbytery of Geneva at a 
meeting held at Ulysses, for the purpose of installing Rev. Garritt 
Mandeville pastor of the united congregations of Ulysses, on the 
fifth day of November, 1805. The resolution was in the following 
words, viz. — " Resolved, that this Presbytery will not proceed to 
instal any minister over a particular church, without first examin- 
ing him, and being satisfied as to his experimental religion and 
knowledge of divinity." Another resolution passed at the same 
time, expresses a similar feeling on the subject of ministerial quali- 
fications. "Resolved, that no minister belonging to any other 
denomination or judicatory be received as a constituent member of 
this Presbytery, without first being examined as to his experimental 
knowledge in religion, and his soundness in the faith, and delivering 
a public sermon before Presbytery." The practice which was 
established by these resolutions of the Presbytery, had been the 
uniform practice of the Congregational Associations and Councils 
from the commencement of the existence of ecclesiastical Councils 
in Western New York. It was a practice which the first ministers 
brought with them from the New England States ; the practice of 
their Puritan fathers. The early ministers of Western New York, 
both Congregational and Presbyterian, were very harmonious in 
their theological views, and in their sentiments respecting the quali- 
fications for admission to sealing ordinances. They all held to the 
necessity of visible piety as a qualification for church membership. 
In the admission of members to the church, they were generally 
strict in their examinations on the subject of personal piety, and 
desired of the candidates a clear manifestation of a work of grace 
on the heart, as well as regularity in the life and conversation. In 
their views of theology there were some slight shades of difference, 
such as might be found among the New England divines of that 
period who were distinguished as evangelical and Calvinistic. 
They all professed to be Calvinists, and were such in reality. They 
required that those ministers with whom they associated should 
cordially believe, and diligently inculcate in their public teaching 
those great and fundamental truths. They honestly believed them 
efficacious in converting the soul through the power of the spirit 
attending the Word. They were, therefore, abundant and earnest 
in preaching them. 

Mention has been made in a preceding chapter of the or- 

6 



82 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



ganization of the Middle Association on the Military Tract. The 
churches to which our history relates, which were formed on that 
Tract east of the Cayuga lake, were almost all of them of the 
Congregational order. They were mostly connected with the 
Middle Association. The ministers in that region generally held 
the same connexion. The number of churches and ministers was 
increasing from year to year. The individual churches were in- 
creasing in the number of their members by immigrations from 
abroad, and by conversions to some extent from the world at home. 
They were enlarging in their means for the support of religious in- 
stitutions, and numbers of them obtaining settled pastors. Three of 
their ministers, Messrs. Higgins, Woodruff, and Chad wick, were con- 
nected also with the Presbytery of Geneva. As the ministers and 
churches of the two denominations were intermixed w T ith each 
other, and were harmonious in their theological views, in their sen- 
timents on the subject of qualifications for church membership, and 
the administration of the sacraments, and order of public worship, 
it was the opinion of some of them that it would promote the in- 
terests of religion to have a more intimate union take place between 
the tw T o denominations. At a meeting of the Association, held at 
some period prior to the seventh day of October, 1807, Rev. 
Joshua Leonard was appointed a commissioner on the part of the 
Association, to attend the meeting of the Synod of Albany at 
Cooperstown, on the day above mentioned, and make some propo- 
sitions for a union with that body, leaving the churches of the Asso- 
ciation at liberty to transact, if they pleased, their internal discipline 
according to the principles of Congregational government. Mr. 
Leonard attended the meeting of the Synod, and was cordially re- 
ceived by that body. Having communicated to the Synod the 
views and wishes of the Association, the Synod took the subject 
into serious consideration, and, " after mature deliberation, con- 
cluded it to be an object of great importance to the peace, pros- 
perity, and happiness of the congregations under their care, locally 
situated as they are together, as well as to the advancement of the 
interests of religion generally, that some plan of union and corres- 
pondence should exist between them." Under this impression the 
Synod appointed Messrs. Coe, Oliver, and Woodruff, a committee 
to prepare a draft of a letter to the Association, stating the readi- 
ness of the Synod, with the approbation of the General Assembly, 
to form as intimate a connexion with them as the constitution of the 
Presbyterian church would admit, and inviting them to become a 
constituent branch of the Synod, and assuring them of the cheer- 
fulness of the Synod to leave their churches undisturbed in the ad- 
ministration of their own government, until they should be better 
acquainted with the Presbyterian mode, and voluntarily adopt it. 
This committee prepared a draft, which after some conversations 
was approved, and is as follows : — 



FORMATION OF PRESBYTERIES. 



83 



Cooperstown, Oct. 9th, 1807. 
" Dear Brethren, — We received your communication by the 
Rev. Mr. Leonard with great pleasure, and were highly gratified 
with the object of his mission, which has occupied our serious 
attention. Situated as our judicatories are in a new country, 
rapidly increasing in its population ; blended as our people are in 
the same sentiments, and holding the same divine doctrines, it is 
certainly an object of interesting importance that we should be ce- 
mented together in some intimate bond of union and correspon- 
dence. Such a union would make us better acquainted, and 
increase our attachments to one another, as servants to our common 
Lord. It would facilitate the establishment of the Gospel in many 
of the destitute settlements of our country, by uniting our people 
in a common cause ; and it would enable us to combine our ex- 
ertions more effectually in suppressing error, licentiousness, and 
vice, and promoting the great interests of pure morality and unde- 
fined religion. Prompted by these considerations, and animated 
with a desire to do all in our power to advance the general interests 
of the Redeemer's kingdom, the Synod of Albany stand ready, with 
the approbation of the General Assembly, to form as intimate con- 
nexion with your Association as the constitution of the church will 
admit. 

" We most cordially invite you to become a constituent branch 
of our body, by assuming the characteristic and scriptural name of 
Presbytery, and adopting our standard of doctrine and govern- 
ment, and sit and vote with us in all the great and interesting con- 
cerns of the church. Deeming the name, however, far less- impor- 
tant than the thing, although of. consequence to uniformity in the 
same body, yet, should you be solicitous to retain yours, it will 
not be considered, on our part, as a bar to so desirable a union. 
Nor do we confine our invitation to you as ministers ; but we also 
extend it to delegates from your churches, whom we are willing to 
receive as substantially the same with our ruling elders, to .assist 
us in our public deliberations and discussions. Knowing the influ- 
ence of education and habit, should the churches under your care 
prefer transacting their internal concerns in their present mode of 
Congregational government, we assure them of our cheerfulness 
in leaving them undisturbed in the administration of that govern- 
ment, unless they shall choose to alter it themselves." 

" Should you accede to this plan of union and correspondence, 
and our General Assembly permit us to form it, which, we are dis- 
posed to think, they readily will, we anticipate the auspicious 
period as just at hand, when all the congregations of Presbyterian 
churches in this northern region will form one great phalanx against 
the common enemy, and combine their exertions to advance the 
mediatorial kingdom of our exalted Lord. 



84 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



" We are, Reverend Brethren, w T ith sentiments of respect and 
esteem, 

" Yours sincerely, 

" By order of the Synod, . 

" Samuel F. Snowden, 
Moderator" 

This plan of union was by the Synod laid before the General 
Assembly at its next meeting, in May, 1 808, and by the Assembly 
was fully sanctioned, as appears from the Minutes of the Assembly. 
Vol. ii. p. 258., and from the Assembly's Digest, p. 310. 

The Association adopted this plan of union with the Synod, and 
at the next meeting of the Synod at Aurora, the union was consum- 
mated. The record of the transaction, as inserted in the minutes 
of the Synod, is as follows : — " Whereas it appeared that the plan 
of union and correspondence, proposed by the Synod at their last 
meeting between them, and the Middle Association on the Military 
Tract and its vicinity, has been transmitted to said Association ; 
and, whereas, the said Association have acceded to said plan of 
union and correspondence, as appears from the records of said 
Association, adduced by the Rev. Hugh Wallis and Deacon Peter 
Hitchcock, who are deputed to act on this subject ; and, whereas, 
the General Assembly have permitted the Synod to form this plan 
of union and correspondence, therefore, 

" Resolved — That the Middle Association on the Military Tract 
and its vicinity, be received as a constituent branch of the Synod, 
and they are hereby received accordingly, retaining their own name 
and usages in the administration of the government of their churches, 
according to the terms stated in the plan." 

On the passage of this resolution, Rev. Messrs. Joshua Leonard, 
Hugh Wallis, Nathan B. Derrow, Francis Pomeroy, and Reuben 
Hurd, and Messrs. Gilbert Weed, Peter Hitchcock, and Samuel 
Seward, delegates, being present, took their seats as members of 
Synod. 

In the Minutes of the General Assembly for 1809, it is stated, that 
no report was received from the Middle Association, and they were 
not represented in the Assembly by any minister or delegate. In 
the General View of the state of the churches under the care of the 
General Assembly, the Middle Association is mentioned as connect- 
ed with the Synod of Albany, and as containing seventeen ministers. 
The names of the ministers are not given, nor is the number or the 
names of the churches under its care, furnished. The Presbytery 
of Geneva is reported as consisting of fourteen ministers, and hav- 
ing under its care twelve congregations. The ministers were, Rev. 
Messrs. Jedediah Chapman, Benjamin Bell, John Lindsley, David 
Higgins, Hezekiah N. Woodruff, Oliver Ayer, Howell R. Powell, 
Garret Mandeville, Jabez Chadwick, Ezekiel J. Chapman, Charles 
Mosher, Dirck C. Lansing, Alexander Denoon, and John Stuart. 



FORMATION OF PRESBYTERIES. 



85 



The churches named as under the care of the Presbytery, are, 
Geneseo, Ulysses, Milton, Romulus, Onondaga, Caledonia, Junius, 
Geneva, Gorham, and Seneca. Of the ministers named, Messrs. 
J. Chapman, Higgins, Woodruff, and Chadwick, were also members 
of the Middle Association, and Messrs. Powell, and E. J. Chapman, 
were also members of the Ontario Association. T welve is reported 
as the number of the churches under the care of the Presbytery, 
when at the same time but ten are named. From the records of 
the Presbytery it appears that there were two Presbyterian 
churches in Ulysses, and that the church of Newtown and Che- 
mung had, at least, a nominal existence. As illustrative of the 
great change which has since taken place in Western New York 
generally, and in some places in particular, it may be remarked, 
that at this period the present large and wealthy churches of Geneva 
and Seneca (now Ovid) are reported as vacant, and unable to sup- 
port a pastor. In 1810, the Middle Association was represented 
by one minister, *Rev. Joshua Leonard, and one Lay Commissioner, 
Col. John Lincklaen, in the General Assembly of that year. 

As the Presbytery of Geneva and the .Middle Association were 
now in the same ecclesiastical connexion, being both branches of 
the Synod of Albany, as they were not distinguished by territorial 
limits, but the ministers and churches of both bodies were dispersed 
over the same territory ; and as some of the ministers were mem- 
bers of both bodies, it was deemed expedient that some new arrange- 
ment should take place. As the Synod of Albany was extended 
over all Northern and Western New York, the amount of travel 
was so great as to render it very inconvenient for the distant mem- 
bers to attend the meetings ; and as t'he population of Western New 
York, and the number of ministers and churches was yearly increas- 
ing, it was considered desirable that a new synod should be formed 
as soon as the way should be prepared. Under these circumstances, 
the Synod of Albany, at their meeting in October, 1810, by request, 
formed the Presbytery of Geneva and the Middle Association into 
three presbyteries, distinguished by territorial limits. The ministers 
and churches situated to the west of the Cayuga lake, remained the 
Presbytery of Geneva. Those east of the Cayuga lake, and west 
of the dividing line between the counties of Cayuga and Onondaga, 
and including the town of Marcellus, in the county of Onondaga, 
constituted the Presbytery of Cayuga. The remaining ministers 
and churches belonging to the two bodies constituted the Presby- 
tery of Onondaga. The ministers continuing in the Presbytery of 
Geneva were, — Rev. Messrs. Jedidiah Chapman, John Lindsley, 
Garrett Mandeville, Benjamin Bell, Charles Mosher, Oliver Ayer, 
Alexander Denoon, Ezekiel J. Chapman, Howell R. Powell, John 
Stuart, and Joseph Merrill. The churches connected with it were, 
— Geneva, Ovid, Genesee, Ulysses 1st, Ulysses 2d, Palmyra, Junius 
(now Seneca Falls), Gorham, Newtown and Chemung, Romulus 



86 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



and Caledonia. The Presbytery of Cayuga was composed of the 
ministers whose names follow, viz. — Rev. Messrs. David Higgins, 
Hezekiah N. Woodruff, Levi Parsons, Seth Smith, William Clark, 
Jeremiah Osborn, Francis Pomeroy, Royal Phelps, and Joshua 
Lane. The churches connected with this Presbytery were, — 
Skeneatoles, Aurelius, Locke, Mentz, Brutus, Sempronius, Scipio, 
Camillus, Genoa 1st, Genoa 2d, Genoa 3d, and Dryden. To the 
Presbytery of Onondaga belonged — Rev. Messrs. Joshua Leonard, 
Hugh Wallis, John Davenport, Jabez Chadwick, Reuben Hurd, 
Dirck C. Lansing, Joshua Johnson, Andrew Rawson, William J. 
Willcox and Elnathan Walker. The churches under its care were, 
— Cazenovia, Onondaga, Onondaga Hollow, Pompey 1st, Norwich, 
Otisco, German, Homer, Lenox and Sullivan, Preble, Pompey 2d, 
Manlius, Fabius, Virgil, Cincinnatus, Smithfleld, and Pompey 3d. 
These three presbyteries, in accordance with an application from 
the Synod of Albany, were by the General Assembly at their meet- 
ing in May, 1811, constituted a synod to be called and known by 
the name of " The Synod of Geneva." In accordance with the 
order of the General Assembly, the Synod met at Geneva on the 
first Wednesday of October, 1811. The meeting commenced with 
public worship. Rev. David Higgins preached the sermon, and 
after divine service, was elected moderator of the Synod. The 
churches brought into the Presbyterian connexion by virtue of the 
plan of union and correspondence between the Synod of Albany 
and the Middle Association, and which received the sanction of the 
General Assembly, were considered as retaining the privileges 
reserved to them by that plan. The principle recognised in that 
plan, was also considered as an allowed principle for future action 
on the part of the Presbyteries in receiving churches under their 
care. These churches were in all respects Presbyterian, with the 
exception that their sessions consisted of the body of the brethren 
of competent age, instead of a bench of elders chosen for the pur- 
pose of government, and set apart by certain formalities. Minis- 
ters who were installed as pastors of these churches were set apart 
in accordance with the orders prescribed in the form of govern- 
ment of the Presbyterian church, and all ministers who were 
received as members of any of the Presbyteries from bodies other 
than Presbyterian, were required to adopt the Confession of Faith 
md form of government, and discipline in the Presbyterian church 
n the United States. Nor was this practice of receiving churches 
mder the care of Presbytery, allowing them to administer the 
government of the church, by vote of the male members, and allow- 
ing one of the members deputed for that purpose to sit as a ruling 
lder, and vote in the higher judicatories of the church, peculiar to 
V" estern New York. It was a principle acted upon in other parts 
>f the Presbyterian church in the United States. The Presbytery 
>f Albany had several such churches attached to it. So also the 



FORMATION OF PRESBYTERIES. 



8? 



Presbytery of Columbia, that of Newark, of Susquehannah, and a 
number of others, received churches on the same principle. Annual 
reports from these churches, were received by the Presbyteries, as 
from the other churches under their care. Their records were sent 
up annually for review and correction. They contributed equally 
with other churches to the necessary expenses and other funds of 
the Presbyterian church. In the administration of the discipline of 
the church, the forms of process contained in the Book of Discipline 
were observed, and appeals from the sentence of the church went 
to the higher judicatories in the same manner as from other churches. 
They received their pastors through the action of the Presbytery 
in accordance with the rules contained in the form of government 
of the Presbyterian church, and the relation between the church 
and their pastor was regulated entirely by these rules. These 
churches, as has been already observed, differed in no respect from 
strictly Presbyterian churches, except that their sessions were 
composed of all the male members of the church of suitable age, to 
act in the concerns of the church, instead of a bench of elders chosen 
for this express purpose, and set apart by certain religious rites. 



88 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Territory West of the Genesee River. Phelps and Gorham's Purchase ; the Mill 
Seat; the Triangle; the Connecticut Tract; the Cottinger Tract; the Church 
Tract; the Patterson Tract; the Starrett Tract. The Holland Purchase. Rapid 
Settlement of the Country. Peter Shaffer and Scottsville. Infidel Club. Ganson's 
Settlement. Almond. Rev. Andrew Gray. Organization of a Church. Settle- 
ment of Angelica. Town of Northampton divided. County of Genesee erected. 
Other Civil Divisions. Rev. David Perry, the first Missionary to this Region. 
"Father Spencer," his Labors, Character, Death, Monument. Church of Bergen, 
Riga. Rev. Allen Hollister. Church of Warsaw, Attica. Rev. Silas Hubbard. 
Church of Ogden, Fredonia, Buffalo, Lewiston, Hamburgh. The War with Great 
Britain, its effects on the Holland Purchase. Rev. Samuel Parker. Rev. Robert 
Hubbard. Church of Almond, Angelica. Mr. Hubbard ordained and installed ; his 
Labors, Character, and Death. 

It is now time that we direct our attention to that portion of West- 
ern New York which is situated on the west side of the Genesee 
river. A comparatively small share of this territory was included 
in Phelps and Gorham's Purchase of the Seneca Indians. The 
boundaries of this tract may be said to commence on the Genesee 
river, at a point two miles north of the place where formerly stood 
the Indian village of Canawagus, and to proceed on a direct west 
line from that point, a distance of twelve miles : thence in a north- 
easterly direction, parallel to Lake Ontario : thence by the shore 
of the lake to the mouth of the river : and thence up the river to 
the place of beginning. It is said that the Indians, after having con- 
cluded to make a sale of land to Mr. Phelps, expressed a decided 
indisposition to suffer him to extend his purchase any further than 
the river. Mr. Phelps pleaded for a sufficient territory to enable him 
to erect a mill, urging its importance to the Indians themselves. 
On their agreeing to his proposition, he described the territory above 
designated as a suitable quantity to constitute a mill-yard, and fur- 
nish the timber necessary for the supply of the saw-mill. From 
this circumstance, the tract which now comprises the towns of 
Chili, Riga, Gates, Ogden, Greene, and Parma, was frequently 
spoken of as " the Mill Seat." The Indian title to this territory 
was extinguished several years before the purchase of Robert Mor- 
ris of the other lands of the Indians west of the Genesee river, and 
some settlements were made on it, particularly near the mouth ot 
the Genesee river, at a very early period. Almost all the settle- 
ments west of the river at the commencement of the present cen- 
tury, were on this tract. The number of families, however, was 
small, and it is not known that at that period any stated religious 
worship in any place was maintained. 



THE HOLLAND PURCHASE. 



89 



In a former chapter, we have narrated the sale of the land lying 
west of Phelps and Gorham's Purchase to Robert Morris, by the 
State of Massachusetts, and the subsequent extinction of the Indian 
title, by a treaty made with the Indians at Big Tree, in 1791, as 
also the sale of the principal part of this acquired territory by Mr. 
Morris to the Holland Land Company. Between the Holland 
Land Company's Purchase, and Phelps and Gorham's Purchase, lay 
a tract of about 300,000 acres, extending from the Pennsylvania 
line to Lake Ontario. This tract at the south end was twelve miles 
in width : at the north end it was considerably less, owing to the 
irregularity of the westjline of Phelps and Gorham's Purchase. This 
tract was sold by Mr. Morris, in separate parcels, to different pur- 
chasers. West of that part of Phelps and Gorham's purchase on 
the west side of the Genesee river, lay a tract which from its form 
was denominated the Triangle, including the towns of Bergen, 
Sweden, Clarkson, and part of Leroy and some others. This tract 
was bojunded on the east by Phelps and Gorham's Purchase, and on the 
west by a meridian drawn from the south-west corner of Phelps and 
Gorham's Purchase to Lake Ontario. It extended northwardly to the 
Lake. This tract was sold to Mr. Le Roy, of the city of New York, 
from whom the village of Leroy derived its name. Between the Tri- 
angle and the Holland Purchase, was a tract of about six miles in width, 
which came into the possession of the State of Connecticut, and on this 
account was denominated the Connecticut Tract. These two tracts 
extended south, as the writer believes, to the south line of the town 
of Leroy. South of these tracts, and Phelps and Gorham's Pur- 
chase, lay what was denominated the Cragie Tract, and south of 
this, the Cottinger Tract, concerning which the writer has obtained 
no very definite information. South of the Cottinger Tract lay the 
Church Tract, a territory containing 100,000 acres, sold by Mr. 
Morris to John B. Church, of the city of New York. South of this, 
was a tract of 9000 acres sold to Mr. Patterson, of the city of Bal- 
timore, and adjoining this was a tract of 3500 acres, sold to Mr. 
Starrett, also of Baltimore. This tract adjoined the State of Penn- 
sylvania. All these tracts, together with the Holland Purchase, 
were in due time prepared by surveys into convenient lots, to be 
sold to actual settlers, and at different points the settlement speedily 
commenced, and progressed with great rapidity. As the first prin- 
cipal road which was made passable through this region, was that 
which leads from Avon on the Genesee river, through Leroy and 
Batavia to Buffalo, it was natural that the first settlements should 
be made on that road, and up and down the Genesee river. 

We have already noticed the Scotch settlement of Caledonia, 
with the organization of a church and the settlement of a pastor, 
Rev. Alexander Denoon. Peter Shaffer settled in 1788 at the place 
where the village of Scottsville now stands. He was the first set- 
tler on the Genesee river, and probably, with the exception of his 
own family, lived without any society for several years. About 



90 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



1796, some German families from Pennsylvania moved into his 
neighborhood, and shortly after, others from England and Scotland, 
and a very few from the Eastern States. A correspondent ob- 
serves that the region was for years noted for its irreligion ; that it 
was said for a considerable time that the Sabbath had not found its 
way west of the Genesee river ; that an infidel club was early 
formed, composed mainly of Englishmen and Scotchmen, that had a 
circulating library composed of the works of Voltaire, Volney, 
Hume, Payne, and others of a similar character. No church of the 
Presbyterian or Congregational order existed in this place till 
March, 1822. At Ganson's settlement (now Leroy), the Ganson 
family located themselves on the rise of ground at the east end of 
the present village, perhaps as early as 1796 or '97, and a settle- 
ment existed there in 1802 of some sixteen or eighteen families. 
The author visited the place in that year, and preached a sermon, 
which was then a circumstance of very rare occurrence among 
them. There was then but one male professor of religion in the 
settlement, a Mr. Carver. He had some time previous to this set up 
public worship on the Sabbath, but through discouragement had 
relinquished it. At this period, few, if any white settlers had locat- 
ed themselves west of Leroy, with the exception of a few families 
on the Niagara river. About this time, however, settlers began to 
come in, and population rapidly increased. The Holland Land 
Company's office was located at Batavia, a circumstance which 
w T ould naturally have an influence in bringing in inhabitants into 
that village. 

At a considerable distance in a southern direction, a settlement 
w T as commenced in 1796, at a place which now constitutes the town 
of Almond, in the county of Alleghany, by Rev. Andrew Gray, 
William Gray, Joseph Rathbone, and a Mr. Van de Mark. The 
next year Moses Van Campen (now generally known as Major 
Van Campen) and Capt. M'Henry joined them. These were fol- 
lowed, in a short time, by Walter Karr, Joseph Karr, Samuel 
Karr, Silas Ferry, Stephen Major, Benjamin Van Campen, Joseph 
Coleman, and George Lockhart. These were all from Pennsyl- 
vania. Some of them brought their effects from the place of their 
removal on the Susquehannah river, in a flat-bottomed scow, up 
the Susquehannah, the Chemung, and Canisteo rivers, to the place 
where the village of Hornellsville now stands. Several of these 
people were professors of religion. Mr. Gray was a clergyman 
of the Reformed Dutch Church. Public worship was immediately 
set up, and a church was soon organized of the Reformed Dutch 
order, and for several years Mr. Gray was their preacher. But 
eventually Mr. Gray removed from them, and the church fell into 
decay, and in a short time became extinct. Major Van Campen 
removed to Angelica in 1805. The settlement of this place had 
commenced two years previous, by William Hedding and a Mr. 



THE HOLLAND PURCHASE. 



91 



Chamberlain. Evert Van Wickle, Esq., moved in 1804. He was 
agent for Mr. Church, the proprietor of the tract in which Angelica 
is comprised. The settlement at Almond was within the bounds 
of Phelps and Gorham's Purchase. The settlement at Angelica 
may be considered as the commencement of the settlement of the 
Church Tract. 

Until the year 1802, the whole of Western New York which lay 
west of a line formed by the west boundary of Phelps' and Gor- 
ham's Purchase, from the Pennsylvania line to the intersection of 
that boundary with the Genesee river, and from thence continued 
down the river to its mouth, was comprehended in one town, 
named Northampton. The town meeting was held at the lower 
falls of the Genesee river, where the principal part of the inhabit- 
ants resided. On the 30th day of March, 1802, an act of the 
Legislature was passed, declaring this territory to be a county by 
the name of Genesee, and dividing the town of Northampton into 
four towns. The Holland Purchase was constituted a town by the 
name of Batavia. The northern part of the remaining territory 
remained the town of Northampton, and extended from Lake On- 
tario south to a line formed by the south boundary of that part of 
Phelps and Gorham's Purchase which lies west of the Genesee 
river, and continuing that line in a due west direction to the east 
boundary of the Holland Purchase. The town of Southampton 
lay contiguous to this, between the same parallels, and extended 
south to a line drawn due west from the north-west corner of town- 
ship No. 9, in the seventh range of townships in Phelps and Gor- 
ham's Purchase, this line continuing west to the boundary of the 
Holland Purchase. All the territory south of this, between the 
same parallels to the Pennsylvania line, constituted the town of 
Leicester. This latter town, in February, 1805, was divided, and 
the town of Angelica set off' from it to include all that part which 
lies south of a line drawn parallel with the southern boundary of 
the State, distant thirty-four miles from said boundary. 

Feb. 8th, 1810, the town of Buffalo was set off from Clarence, 
including all that part of the State which lies west of the west 
transit line. The town of Buffalo, at its first organization, must 
have contained an area of about 300,000 acres. The transit lines 
were meridian lines, run by a transit instrument, by which the Hol- 
land Purchase was divided into four separate parcels. These lines 
were sixteen miles distant from each other. This arrangement of 
the towns is evidence that the population of the country, at that 
period, must have been very sparse. In 1806, the county of Alle- 
ghany was separated from the county of Genesee, embracing also 
on its east line one tier of townships from the west point of Steu- 
ben. In 1808, the county of Genesee was further dismembered, 
and the counties of Cattaraugus, Niagara, and Chautauque were or- 
ganized from it. These counties, in the year 1810, according to 



92 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



the census of the United States, contained an aggregate population 
of 25,240 souls, of whom 12,588 were in the county of Genesee, 
and 8,791 in the county of Niagara. At this period, Batavia and 
Buffalo were small villages. Rochester, and the country around 
it, were a wilderness. In 1812, this village was laid out into lots 
for settlements, when not more than two or three log-houses ex- 
isted there. In 1813, one of the great Pagan festivals was held on 
this ground, and the sacrifice of a white dog took place, on the 
spot where the Bethel church has since been erected. 

The region of country west of the Genesee river, was at an early 
period visited by missionaries from various societies. The first 
missionary who crossed the Genesee river on missionary employ- 
ment, it is to be believed, was Rev. David Perry of Richmond, 
Massachusetts. He was in the employ of the Berkshire and 
Columbia Missionary Society in the summer of 1800, for a period 
of three months, and penetrated the wilderness as far as Ganson's 
settlement, where he preached and performed other missionary 
labor. Here he found one male professor of religion, and through 
his influence public worship was commenced on the Sabbath, but 
it continued but a short time. But the most distinguished missionary 
who operated on this ground was Rev. John Spencer — generally on 
account of his age and acceptability — familiarly called " Father 
Spencer." He was a native of the State of Connecticut, and brought 
up to manual labor ; possessing no more than an ordinary school 
education in his youth. In the Revolutionary war he served as a 
soldier in the army. After the close of the war, he removed with 
his family to the town of Worcester in the county of Otsego. The 
writer believes that he here sustained the office of deacon in the 
Congregational church in that place ; and, as the church was with- 
out a pastor, was the principal leader in the public worship of the 
Sabbath, and in conference meetings at other times. He possessed 
a clear, discriminating mind, a good measure of ready utterance, 
connected with correct theological views, and rational and fervent 
piety. He was plain in his manners, and unassuming ; diligent in 
his business, and at the same time, in a great measure, indifferent 
to the things of the world. Contemplating the moral desolations 
around him, the extent of the harvest, and the paucity of laborers, 
he felt a strong desire to become a minister of the gospel of salva- 
tion. Communicating his feeling to some of the ministers of his 
acquaintance, he was encouraged by them, and assisted in a short 
course of preparation for licensure. In the month of October, 1800, 
he was licensed to preach the gospel, by the Northern Associated 
Presbytery, and one year afterwards, by the same body, was ordained 
to the ministerial office. For two or three years he exercised his 
ministry in the county of Greene, afterwards in the county of 
Oneida. In the spring of 1809 he removed with his family to 
Canadawa (now the town of Sheridan), in the county of Chautauque. 



THE HOLLAND PURCHASE. 



93 



At this period, the writer, who was personally acquainted with him, 
believes that he must have been more than fifty years of age. He 
is supposed to have been the first minister of the Congregational 
order who settled in that region. He was for several years a mis- 
sionary in the employ of the Connecticut Missionary Society ; his 
field of labor, the Holland Purchase. In this employment he was 
eminently faithful, and for this species of ministerial service, he 
possessed some important qualifications. His field of labor was 
large ; the country new ; the roads rough and often miry ; distance 
between settlements frequently considerable ; and accommodations 
for his entertainment plain and sometimes scanty. But none of 
these things moved Father Spencer. lie disregarded outward cir- 
cumstances, and went on unmoved in his work. He possessed an 
easiness of address, connected with plainness of manner, but far 
removed from vulgarity, which made him a favorite with the 
uneducated in the wilderness, while the fund of good sense which 
he possessed, and manifest honesty of purpose in the work in which 
he was engaged, rendered him acceptable to the educated and 
refined part of community. As a missionary, it is believed that 
he was highly useful in forming and sustaining the churches on the 
Holland Purchase. He died in 1826, but his memorial is with the 
churches, and will long remain precious in their recollection. A 
monument with the following inscription marks his grave in the 
burying ground of the church of Sheridan : — 

" This stone is consecrated to the memory of Rev. John Spencer, 
many years a Missionary of the Connecticut Missionary Society. 
He was the first gospel minister, who traversed the wilderness, 
then called the Holland Purchase, and was the instrument under 
God in forming most of the Congregational and Presbyterian 
churches which existed in this region when he rested from his 
labors — 1826. Aged, 68 years. 

" He trod a useful but laborious path to immortality, in the ardent 
and unremitted exercise of doing good. 

" The Association of Western New York, grateful to his memory, 
have erected this monument, hoping that it may prompt the beholder 
to imitate his self-denying labors. — 1838." 

Many other missionaries were employed on this field of labor, 
generally, however, for short periods : and for a number of years, 
this part of Western New York was almost entirely dependent 
upon the different missionary organizations for the ministerial labor 
which it enjoyed. 

Of the churches to which this history relates, the next to Cale- 
donia in date of organization, as the writer believes, was the Con- 
gregational church formed on the Triangle, now the church of 
Bergen. Some of the early settlers on this tract were professors 
of religion from Guilford in the State of Connecticut, and its vicinity. 
Among them was the venerable Deacon Levi Ward, a man of 



94 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



eminent piety, who with his sons, also professors of religion, and 
their families, located here. Soon after their arrival public worship 
was set up, and not long after the church was organized. This 
must have been in 1807 or 1808. From this church after a short pe- 
riod was formed the church of Riga. Over these two churches 
Rev. Allan Hollister was ordained and installed pastor, in the year 
181 1 or 1812. He continued not long in this station, and was removed 
by death. The first organization of a church on the Holland Pur- 
chase was that of Warsaw. The date of its organization is not 
known to the writer. Over this church, on the twenty-seventh day 
of October, 1813, Rev. Silas Hubbard was installed pastor, by a 
committee of the Presbytery of Geneva. A church was formed in 
Attica soon after the formation of the one in Warsaw. The church 
of Ogden, originally denominated Parma, consisting of ten members, 
was organized Nov. 4th, 1811, by Rev. Reuben Parmele. This 
church was originally Congregational in its form of government. 
The church of Fredonia, originally called the first Presbyterian 
church of Pomfret, was organized by Rev. John Spencer, Sept. 
29th, 1810. The number of members at the organization was 
twelve. For several years this church enjoyed the ministry of 
Mr. Spencer a part of the time. The first Presbyterian church of 
Buffalo was organized, Feb. 2d, 1812, by Rev. Thaddeus Osgood. 
The number of its members was twenty-nine. Its members became 
dispersed by the war with Great Britain, and the burning of Buffalo ; 
but after the conclusion of the war reorganized, and have been 
prosperous. The churches of Lewiston and Hamburgh were 
among the first organizations in that region ; but the date of their 
organization is not known to the writer. In the year 1814, Rev. 
Chester Colton was engaged sixteen w r eeks on the Holland Purchase, 
as a missionary in the service of the Connecticut Missionary So- 
ciety. He notices in his report, that there were on the Holland 
Purchase, thirteen Congregational churches, of which ten were 
small, but sound in the faith, and greatly desirous of enjoying the 
stated preaching and ordinances of the Gospel ; and that there was 
but one Congregational minister who had the pastoral care of a 
church in all that extensive tract of country. 

The war between the United States and Great Britain com- 
menced in June, 1812, and continued till 1815. The effects of this 
were most disastrous, especially in a religious point of view, to this 
part of Western New York. It was a frontier country, but 
sparsely populated, and was exposed to the incursions of British 
troops, accompanied by savage Indians. This circumstance was 
calculated to produce terror in many minds. As a natural conse- 
quence immigration almost wholly ceased. Many who had settled 
in the country, especially those who were in the more exposed 
places, removed to a distance from the seat of war ; and of those 
who remained, frequent alarms greatly deranged their business. 



THE HOLLAND PURCHASE. 



95 



The excitement naturally produced by proximity to scenes of 
martial conflict, and the spirit which war necessarily engenders, 
are most unfavorable to the growth of piety in the hearts of Chris- 
tians, or a serious attention to the concerns of salvation on the part 
of impenitent sinners. The marching of troops upon the Sabbath, 
and other circumstances of Sabbath desecration, necessarily, or at 
least, usually, connected with a state of warfare and the presence 
of armies, have a most deleterious influence on religious improve- 
ment, and the quiet observance of Christian ordinances. Those 
who compose an army are, for the most part, exceedingly depraved 
characters, whose intercourse is corrupting. Near the close of the 
year 1813, Fort Niagara was taken by the British troops; the villages 
of Lewiston, Youngstown, Manchester, Indian Tuscarora, Black 
Rock, and Buffalo, were burnt, and the whole Niagara frontier 
desolated. These circumstances were exceedingly unpropitious to 
the advancement of the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom. The 
trustees of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, in their report 
to the Society for the year 1813, state that Rev. John Spencer 
labored the whole year as a missionary, chiefly on the Holland 
Purchase; that from midsummer 1812, until the following winter, 
universal and distressing agitations of that border, rendered his 
prospects of usefulness more discouraging and gloomy. In the 
succeeding winter, spring, and summer, however, meetings were 
better attended ; the attention to preaching, and the anxiety mani- 
fested for more evangelical instruction was increasing ; though no 
special revival had been enjoyed within the circle of his labors. In 
the report for 1814, they say, " Through the whole of the year 
1814, Rev. John Spencer was employed in missionary service on 
the Holland Purchase, but in consequence of the operations of the 
war with Great Britain, which in a particular manner affected that 
part of the State, his labors and usefulness were greatly impeded." 

In the county of Alleghany we have spoken of the settlement of 
Almond and Angelica. These are supposed to have been the ear- 
liest settlements in that county. Notice has been made of Rev. An- 
drew Gray and the Reformed Dutch church organized by him in 
Almond, which in a short time became extinct. These places, with 
the region around them, received a share of attention from different 
Missionary Societies. In 1808, Rev. Samuel Parker, then a licensed 
preacher of the gospel, under a commission from the Massachusetts 
Missionary Society, visited these settlements, and spent a little sea- 
son with them. His visits were repeated in 1810 and 1811, and 
his labors, it is believed, were instrumental in preparing the way 
for the organization of churches in those places. In 1810 they 
were visited by Rev. Robert Hubbard, then a licentiate preacher, 
from the same society. In the following year Mr. Hubbard was 
employed for a season by the Genesee Missionary Society, and a 
part of his time was expended in these places. His labors were ac- 



96 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



ceptable to the people, and they proposed to him to become their 
stated preacher. On the 5th day of May, 1812, a church was or- 
ganized at Almond, then a part of the town of Alfred, by Rev. John 
Niles, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Bath, consisting of 
twenty-one members, several of whom resided in the adjoining 
town of Hornellsville. The next day Mr. Niles organized a church 
in Angelica, consisting of six members, to whom nine others were 
added on profession within the compass of a year. These churches 
were organized on the Presbyterian platform of government, and 
were the first organizations of the kind in the county of Allegany. 
On the twentieth day of August, 1812, Mr. Hubbard was ordained 
by the Presbytery of Geneva, and, at the same time installed pastor 
of the united congregations of Angelica and Alfred (now Almond). 
The installation services were held at Angelica, in the veranda of 
the house of Evert Van Wickle, Esq., the female part of the con- 
gregation been commoded with seats in the house, and most of the 
males in the open air in front of the house. Such were the accom- 
modations for public worship, in the early period of the history of 
the church of Western New York. Mr. Hubbard's connexion 
with these churches was continued about seventeen years, when 
he was dismissed and removed to Dansville. He was never again 
regularly installed pastor of any church, though he preached in a 
stated manner, in the village of Dansville, for several years, and was 
instrumental of gathering a church in that place. Mr. Hubbard 
was a native of Shelburne, in the State of Massachusetts. He was 
a graduate of Williams' College of the class of 1803. He was 
probably about twenty years old when he left college, regular in 
his habits, but not pious. After leaving college he commenced the 
study of the law, and pursued it, as the author believes, about two 
years. During this period his attention was called to a conside- 
ration of the things which concerned the salvation of his soul ; his 
views were radically changed, and he was led to entertain a hope 
in Christ. The change in Mr. Hubbard was very visible, and 
through the remainder of his life was very distinctly marked. 
When he was brought by the teachings of the spirit and personal 
experience to know the value of an interest in Christ, he ardently 
desired that his fellow-men might be partakers of the same benefit. 
The ministry of reconciliation appeared to him a most desirable 
employment. He relinquished the study of the law, and com- 
menced the study of Theology under the tuition of Dr. Packard, 
the pastor of the church of Shelburne, his native place. His licen- 
sure took place, probably, in 1809, or 10. He is known to have 
been recently licensed, when he came into Western New York in 
1810. During the period in which he resided in the county of 
Allegany, his labors were by no means confined to the congrega- 
tions from which he received his support, but were extended 
through all parts of that county, and the western part of the county 



THE HOLLAND PURCHASE. 



97 



of Steuben. He was the only minister of the Presbyterian deno- 
mination in the region. He was unwearied in his labors, and in 
attending to his ministerial appointments was utterly regardless of 
the vicissitudes of the weather. But it was impossible for him to 
cultivate so extensive a field in any thorough manner ; hence he 
was not distinguished for great success and remarkable results. 
He formed a number of churches and kept them alive ; but it was 
impossible for him to bestow upon them the amount of labor need- 
ful to cause them to flourish. He undertook to cultivate too large 
a field, and would probably have been more useful, had his field 
of labor been more circumscribed. Mr. Hubbard was through 
life distinguished for a devotional spirit. He evidently lived near 
to God. He was remarkable for his indifference to the things of 
the world, and for his extensive charity. At any time he was 
ready to divide the last loaf with any destitute person. He was 
not, however, always judicious in his charities, but suffered himself 
to be imposed upon by the worthless and designing. During the 
last years of his life his health was feeble ; consumptive symptoms 
manifested themselves ; but to the extent of his power he continued 
in the work of the ministry, although he had no particular charge 
of any congregation. Death overtook him at Canisteo, where he 
had gone to perform the work of the ministry, on the 24th day of 
May, 1840, and in the fifty-seventh year of his age. 



7 



98 



CHAPTER IX. 

Ontario Association. Convention of Delegates from Associations in the State of New- 
York at Clinton. Deliberations in the Convention; different opinions; failure of 
forming a General Association. Reason for a Union of the Presbyterian and Con- 
gregational denominations. Dissolution of the Ontario Association. Union of the 
Ministers and Churches with the Presbytery of Geneva : favorable results of this 
Union. Harmony of Ministers and Churches in Doctrine and Practice. Character 
of the doctrines generally preached. Labor of the Ministers of the period. Bene- 
fit of Ministers having much labor. Harmony between Resident Ministers and Mis- 
sionaries. Presbytery of Geneva divided into four Presbyteries, Geneva, Ontario, 
Bath, and Niagara. Enlargement of the Presbyteries. Presbytery of Rochester 
constituted. Presbytery of Genesee formed. Synod of Genesee erected. 

The Ontario Association has been noticed as the oldest ecclesi- 
astical connexion of ministers and churches, with which our history 
is concerned, in Western New York. In 1804 the ministers who 
were connected with it, were, as has been stated, Rev. Messrs. 
Joseph Grover, John Rolph, Reuben Parmele, Timothy Field, Elea- 
zar Fairbanks, James H. Hotchkin, and Ahijah Warren. Mr. 
Hunn had previously deceased. The churches at that time con- 
nected with the Association were, South Bristol, Boughtontown 
(now Victor), West Bloomfield, North Bristol, Canandaigua, East 
Bloomfield, Charlestown (now Lima), Augusta (now Rushville), 
Pittstown (now Richmond), and Middletown (now Naples). At a 
meeting of the Association, Jan. 10th, 1810, the church of Canan- 
daigua gave notice of their secession from the Association, declar- 
ing themselves independent of all ecclesiastical jurisdiction as a 
church. In this state of independence that church has stood to the 
present time. On the 8th day of January, 1805, the relation of 
Mr. Fairbanks to the Association was declared to cease, he having 
united with the Baptist denomination, and received ordination 
anew from an ecclesiastical council of that denomination. On the 
12th of June, 1805, Mr. Field was dismissed from his pastoral re- 
lation to the church of Canandaigua, and soon afterwards left the 
country and returned to the Eastern States. From Mr. Rolph the 
Association withdrew fellowship, October 14th, 1812, on account of 
unchristian conduct on his part. The ministers who became mem- 
bers of the Association, subsequent to 1804, were, Rev. Solomon 
Allen, pastor of the church of Middletown, Rev. Aaron C. Collins, 
and Rev. Ezekiel J. Chapman, who were received Jan. 15th, 1806 ; 
Rev. John Niles, received by ordination, June 11th, 1806; Rev. 
Howell R. Powell, received June 10th, 1807; Rev. Simeon R. 
Jones, received June 14th, 1810; Rev. Silas Hubbard, received by 



UNION OF CONGREGATIONALISTS WITH PRESBYTERIANS. 99 



ordination, October 10th, 1811 ; Rev. Allen Hollister, pastor of the 
churches of Murray (now Bergen) and Riga, received May 27th, 
1812. Mr. Jones, at his own request, was dismissed from the con- 
nexion, October 10th, 1811 ; and Mr. Niles departed this life, 
Lord's Day, September 13th, 1812. The churches that became 
connected with the Association, in addition to those already men- 
tioned, were those of Northfield (now Pittsford), received June 10th, 
1806 ; Prattsburgh, received at the same time with the preceding ; 
the second church in Pittstown (now Livonia), received Jan. 13th, 
1807; Palmyra received June 14th, 1807; Phelps, Williamson 
(now Marion), and Stonetown (supposed to be the present church 
of Penfield), received June 13th, 1S09 ; Newtown (now Elmira), 
received June 11th, 1810 ; Geneseo (now the church in the village 
of Geneseo), received October 8th, 1811 ; Murray (now Bergen) 
and Riga, received May 27th, 1812. The ecclesiastical acts of the 
Association, in addition to those already noticed, which seem worthy 
of record, are, the licensure of Mr. Noah Crane to preach the gos- 
pel, January 12th, 1802 ; the ordination of Mr. Daniel W. Eastman, 
a licentiate of the Morris County Presbytery, and a resident of 
Upper Canada, to the work of an evangelist, June 9th, 1802 ; the 
dismission of Rev. Ahijah Warren from the pastoral charge of the 
church of South Bristol, June 12th, 1805 ; the installation of Rev. 
John Niles, by a committee, as pastor of the church of Bath, July 
6th, 1808 ; the installation of Rev. Ezekiel J. Chapman to the pas- 
toral charge of the church of Lima, January 12th, 1809 ; the disso- 
lution of the pastoral relation between Rev. Solomon Allen and the 
church of Naples, June 13th, 1810; the installation of Rev. Aaron 
C. Collins to the pastoral charge of the church of Honeoye (for- 
merly Pittstown), June 4th, 1810. 

At a meeting of the Association held at Honeoye (now Richmond), 
June 13th, 1810, Rev. Messrs. James H. Hotchkin, John Niles, and 
Howell R. Pow T ell, were appointed delegates on the part of the As- 
sociation, to attend a Convention of delegates of the several Con- 
gregational bodies in the State of New York, to be convened at 
Clinton in the county of Oneida, on the first Thursday of July of 
that year, for the purpose of taking into consideration the subject 
of forming a General Association for the State, and if deemed ex- 
pedient, to take the preparatory steps necessary to such organiza- 
tion. This convention was attended at the appointed time and 
place by all the delegates appointed by the Ontario Association, 
with others from the Oneida Association, the Black River Associa- 
tion, the Union Association, the Luzerne Association, the Northern 
Associated Presbytery, and an ecclesiastical body in the county of 
Saratoga and vicinity, the name of which is not recollected. The 
Middle Association, having previous to this united with the Synod 
of Geneva, declined sending delegates to the convention. The sub- 
ject to be acted upon had been discussed to some extent in the dif- 



100 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



ferent bodies represented. It appeared that considerable diversity 
of opinion prevailed as to the expediency of forming a General As- 
sociation of all the Congregational bodies in the State of New York. 
Some were of the opinion that the interests of religion would be pro- 
moted by such an organization. Others thought that the terms on 
which the Middle Association had been received into connexion 
with the Synod of Geneva and the General Assembly of the Pres- 
byterian Church, laid a foundation for a general union of the Con- 
gregational and Presbyterian churches throughout the State of New 
York, and that as these were to such a degree intermixed with each 
other, the cause of religion would be to a greater degree advanced 
by a more strict union between them. Those of this opinion 
thought, that instead of forming a General Association on strictly 
Congregational principles, it would more effectually subserve the 
interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, should the several Associa- 
tions seek a connexion with the Synod, within which they were 
severally located, of the same tenure as that by which the Middle 
Association was connected with the Synod of Albany, or, which 
perhaps would be preferable, that the Associations should be dis- 
solved, and the ministers and churches composing them, severally 
unite with the Presbytery within the bounds of which they were 
located, the churches stipulating for the liberty to manage their in- 
ternal affairs in accordance with Congregational principles. In 
their opinion such a union of the two denominations would consti- 
tute a strong barrier against the inroads of error ; preserve the 
churches from being deceived by impostors and unauthorized men, 
professing to be ministers of Christ, and who were frequently en- 
deavoring to palm themselves on the churches in the new settle- 
ments ; and enable those churches which had the same common 
faith, and entertained similar views of the ministry and ordinances 
of the church, to act with more united energy in their endeavors to 
advance the cause of Christ in the wilderness. The Oneida Asso- 
ciation had instructed their delegates in the convention to take no 
steps towards the forming of a General Association. The delegate 
from the body in the region of Saratoga, stated that a majority of 
the ministers of that body were in favor of a union with the Pres- 
bytery of Albany. Under these circumstances it was deemed ex- 
pedient to take no steps for the formation of a General Association. 
The result of the meeting of this convention undoubtedly hastened 
the union of the Congregational ministers and churches with the 
Presbyterian church. All idea of forming a general organization 
for the State or for any considerable part of it, on Congregational 
principles, was entirely relinquished. The importance of a more 
general organization, in the growing state of the country, to pro- 
more unity of action, and to prevent collision between its different 
parts, was strongly felt. Such an extended organization in the ex- 
isting state of things seemed unattainable in any other way than by 



UNION OF CONGREGATIONALISTS WITH PRESBYTERIANS. 101 

a union with the Presbyterian Church. Some of the ministers of 
the Ontario Association were already connected with the Presby- 
tery of Geneva, and felt that it was altogether unnecessary that 
two ecclesiastical organizations so nearly agreed in faith and prac- 
tice, should exist on the same ground. They complained of the 
waste of time, labor, and expense of attending the meetings of two 
ecclesiastical judicatories, when one was sufficient to perfect all the 
business. The Presbyterian and , Congregational denominations 
under separate organizations, existing on the same territory, must 
appear to the world as rival parties, and, in fact, could not be other- 
wise than such, to a considerable extent. In the settlement of 
new places, members of both denominations would locate themselves 
in the same neighborhood ; two separate churches must be organized, 
or the members of one denomination must succumb to the other, a 
circumstance not likely to occur. But the whole strength of both 
denominations, perhaps, was not more than sufficient to enable them 
to support the preaching of the gospel for half of the time. Under 
these circumstances the formation of separate churches would be 
ruinous. The entire union of the two denominations appeared to 
many reflecting minds, a very desirable event. Many of the Con- 
gregational brethren, especially among the ministry, thought that 
the general principles of Presbyterial Government were better cal- 
culated to preserve unity of action, and purity of doctrine in the 
church, while in a forming state, and to a great extent destitute of 
a stated ministry, than the Congregational form. 

At the semi-annual meeting of the Ontario Association, in October, 
1812, the subject of union with the Presbytery of Geneva was taken 
under consideration, and discussed at considerable length. At a 
meeting of the Presbytery of Geneva, in April of the following 
year, the subject was brought before that judicatory, and the fol- 
lowing minute was adopted, viz. — " The Presbytery are of opinion 
that a union with the ministers and churches of the Ontario Asso- 
ciation is highly important, as it will combine their influence in 
promoting the great interests of the Redeemer's kingdom ; and they 
cordially invite the said ministers and churches to unite with the 
Presbytery, by adopting the Confession of Faith and form of 
government of the Presbyterian church. But should any of the 
said churches find it most for edification to continue the practice 
of receiving and rejecting members by a vote of the brethren of the 
church generally, instead of a session of ruling elders, the Presbytery 
do not consider that any bar to the contemplated union, and are 
willing they should continue that practice as long as they should 
deem it expedient." On the twenty-fifth day of May following, at a 
special meeting of the Association, convened for the purpose of final 
action on this subject, and held at Prattsburgh, the following reso- 
lutions were passed, viz. — Whereas, it appears from the Holy 
Scriptures of immense importance that all those who love our Lord 



102 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Jesus Christ should be united in the strictest bonds of Christian 
fellowship, that they may with one heart and voice unite in oppos- 
ing error, and in disseminating the knowledge of divine truth ; and 
whereas in the view of this Association there is no reason why 
those denominations of professing Christians, usually called Pres- 
byterian and Congregationalist, should not receive each other as 
brethren, and be united as one body in the strictest sense ; and 
whereas, there exists in this country a Presbytery connected with 
the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church. — Therefore, 

" Resolved, that it is very desirable that this Association become 
united with the Presbytery of Geneva. 

" Resolved, that as a means of forming this union, it is expedient 
that this Association be dissolved, and the Moderator is hereby 
directed to declare it dissolved at the close of the session." In 
accordance with these resolutions, the Moderator, after prayer, 
declared the Association dissolved, and it ceased to have any fur- 
ther existence as an ecclesiastical judicatory. 

Previous to the dissolution of the Association, all the ministers 
who were connected with it, had become members of the Presby- 
tery of Geneva, except Messrs. Grover, Warren, Allen, and Hol- 
lister. Mr. Grover was at this period superannuated and blind, and 
in consequence, incapable of performing the duties of the ministry, 
or of going from home. Though his life was prolonged a number of 
years after this event, he never again became a member of any 
ecclesiastical judicatory. Messrs. Warren and Allen, after a con- 
siderable period, united with Presbyteries. Mr. Hollister, accord- 
ing to the best of the author's recollection, died soon after this, and 
never united with any other ecclesiastical body. The churches 
generally, sooner or later, united with the Presbytery, most of them 
on what was called The Accommodating Plan ; that is, reserving to 
themselves the privilege of managing the government of the church 
by the vote of a majority of the brethren, instead of a bench of 
ruling elders. Numbers of them have, since their union with the 
Presbytery, adopted the Presbyterian form of government in full, 
and elected ruling elders, who have been set apart to office, in ac- 
cordance with the provisions of the Book of Discipline. 

Previous to the dissolution of the Ontario Association, the Mid- 
dle Association had become extinct as a separate organization, by 
the formation of the Presbyteries of-Onondaga and Cayuga in 1811. 
From the period of the dissolution of the Ontario Association, for a 
number of years, no Congregational organization of ministers and 
churches existed in the State of New York, west of the east line of 
the Military Tract. 

The union of the ministers and churches to whom this history 
relates, in one ecclesiastical organization, was a circumstance in a 
high degree favorable to their prosperity. The ministers w T ere very 
happily agreed in their sentiments in relation to the great and fun- 



UNION OF CONGREGATIONALISTS WITH PRESBYTERIANS. 103 



damental doctrines of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and of their 
importance to promote the conversion of sinners, and the spiritual 
improvement of Christians. Not that there were no shades of 
difference in their theological views. Two or three of the ministers, 
probably, in their preaching would speak of the atonement as made 
exclusively for the elect, and on some other points would use that 
phraseology which is generally connected with the doctrine of 
limited atonement. Among the remainder might be found the 
shades of difference which existed among the divines of New 
England, who would have been acknowledged as strict Calvinists. 
The published writings of Doctors Dwight, Strong, and Smalley, 
would probably be as correct an exhibition of the theological views 
of the clergy of Western New York as could be given. Some of 
them embraced the peculiar sentiments of Doctor Samuel Hopkins, 
and a few, those of Doctor Emmons. But they did not consider 
these shades of difference as any bar to Christian fellowship, or 
ministerial union. They set a higher value on those great truths 
in which they were entirely agreed, than on those minor points in 
which they were disagreed ; nor did their difference in doctrinal 
views create any disturbance as to the harmony of their ecclesias- 
tical action. In their sentiments respecting the qualifications for 
the ministry and for admission to the sealing ordinances of the 
Gospel, they were entirely agreed. So also respecting the reality 
and desirableness of special revivals of religion, the sovereignty 
of God. and the special and direct agency of the Holy Spirit in 
producing them, together with the instrumentalities which were to 
be employed by ministers and Christians, they were entirely har- 
monious in their views. The course of preaching best adapted 
to produce awakening, the treatment to be exercised towards the 
awakened, and towards new converts, were subjects concerning 
which there was no controversy. As the ministers were harmoni- 
ous, so also were the churches. If the brief summaries of Christian 
doctrine, and the covenants to which each member was required to 
give his assent on admission to sealing ordinances, differed in mode 
of expression, they were substantially the same as to sentiment. 
If the government of one church was administered by a bench of 
ruling elders, and that of another by a session composed of all the 
male members of suitable age ; it was still the same government, 
administered with a reference to the same ends, and on the same 
general principles. As there was great harmony in doctrinal views 
among the clergy, so there was also among the laity. The preach- 
ing of the ministers of that day was mostly doctrinal. They 
dwelt much in their preaching on those great truths which distin- 
guished the Gospel of Christ from every other system of faith. Of 
course their hearers who embraced the truth were generally well 
indoctrinated, and thus a foundation was laid for Christian union 



104 WESTERN NEW YORK. 

among the members of the churches. The ministers and church 
members of that period had more important concerns to engage 
their attention, than to contend about minute points of difference 
in sentiment respecting those things not essential to the Gospel of 
Jesus Christ. 

At the period which we are now contemplating, the Presbytery 
of Geneva embraced all the ministers and churches of the connexion 
in the State of New York west of the Cayuga lake, and meridians 
drawn from each end of the lake, north and south, to the lines of 
the State. On this territory at that time there were probably not 
less than 140,000 inhabitants, and the number rapidly increasing. 
The Presbytery was composed of twenty-two ministers, and had 
under its care thirty-one churches, and four licentiates. A consi- 
derable number of churches had been formed, which had not as yet 
become connected with any ecclesiastical body. To provide for 
these numerous churches, to attend to the organization of others as 
exigencies demanded, to attend on the meetings of the Presbytery 
and Synod, always at a very considerable distance from a large 
share of the members, and to do what they could to supply the 
destitute with a preached Gospel, devolved a labor on the ministers 
equal to their ability to bear. They had no time to spend in con- 
troversy about minute matters. But these were to the Presbyterian 
church in Western New York blessed times. It is desirable that 
ministers and Christians should have their hands full of labor of the 
right kind. When this is the case their hearts will be right with 
God ; they will look to him for aid in their work, and they will 
feel the value of the assistance of their fellow laborers, and they 
will love one another, and seek the things which make for peace, 
and the things wherewith one may edify another. The missiona- 
ries sent from the different missionary organizations, were of a like 
spirit with the resident ministers. Those who were in the employ 
of the General Assembly, and those from the Missionary Society 
of Connecticut, by the plan of union adopted by those bodies, were 
strictly charged to endeavor by all proper means to promote mutual 
forbearance and accommodation between those inhabitants of the 
new settlements who held the Presbyterian, and those who held the 
Congregational form of church government. The missionaries 
generally acted in the spirit of these instructions. Their terms of 
service were generally short ; the field was immense ; its destitu- 
tions were great ; and labor was demanded. Under these circum- 
stances they had neither time nor disposition to contend with fellow 
laborers who were preaching the same glorious Gospel, and endea- 
voring to convert the wilderness into a fruitful field. At this period 
the writer was himself a resident in the country, a laborer in the 
moral vineyard, and took an active part in effecting the union of 
the two denominations in one organization. On this subject he 



UNION OF CONGREGATION ALISTS WITH PRESBYTERIANS. 



105 



speaks what he know T s, and testifies what he has seen, and felt, and 
experienced, and can no more doubt of the benefits resulting from 
this union, than he can doubt of his own existence. 

At the date of the dissolution of the Ontario Association but two 
churches west of the Genesee river were in connexion with that 
body. These were, the church of Murray (now Bergen), and the 
church of Riga. The church of Caledonia, on that territory, was 
the only one under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva. Some 
other churches had been organized, mostly, if not wholly, of the 
congregational denomination, but, on account of distance, had not 
connected themselves with any ecclesiastical judicatory. That 
part of the country was at this time in a state of rapid progress of 
settlement. The influx of inhabitants was great ; new settlements 
were formed, and foundations were laid for the organization of new 
churches. Such organizations rapidly took place. This was es- 
pecially the case after the close of the war with Great Britain in 
]815. At the stated meeting of the Presbytery of Geneva, held at 
Ovid on the 12th and 13th days of February, 1817, the subject of a 
division of the Presbytery was taken into consideration. At this 
time the Presbytery consisted of twenty-nine ministers, and had 
under its care forty-five churches and seven licentiates. Of the 
ministers two only resided on the Holland Purchase, Rev. Hugh 
Wallis at Pembroke, and Rev. Miles P. Squier installed pastor of 
the church of Buffalo. Of the churches, six. viz. Attica, Warsaw, 
Buffalo, Hamburgh, Lewiston, and Pomfret, were on that territory. 
Several other churches were organized and two ministers were 
located on the purchase, wishing to unite with a Presbytery, when- 
ever one should be organized within a reasonable distance of their 
location. The Presbytery, in view of the existing circumstances, 
the vast extent of territory, the location of the ministers and 
churches on their territory, their present number, and the strong 
probability of the rapid increase of this number, both of ministers 
and churches, came unanimously to the conclusion, that it was ex- 
pedient that the Presbytery should be divided into four Presbyte- 
ries, and that application for this purpose should be made to the 
Synod at their approaching meeting. On the 19th day of the same 
month the Synod of Geneva being in session at Geneva, on the ap- 
plication of the Presbytery, the division was consummated in the 
following manner, viz. : 

The ministers comprised within the counties of Steuben, Allegany, 
and Tioga, together with Rev. Ebenezer Lazell, and Rev. Lyman 
Barrett, and the church of Naples, were constituted a Presbytery, 
to be denominated the Presbytery of Bath. The other ministers 
and churches connected with this Presbytery were : 

Minsters — Rev. David Higgins, Rev. James H. Hotchkin, Rev. 
Rev. Robert Hubbard, Rev. Clement Hickman, and Rev. Hezekiah 



106 WESTERN NEW YORK. 

Woodruff. Churches : Bath, Painted Post, Angelica, Alfred (now 
Almond), Prattsburgh, Wayne, and Elmyra. 

The ministers and churches to the westward of the eastern 
boundary of the Holland Purchase, together with Rev. David Tul- 
lar and the church in Leroy, with Mr. David M. Smith, licentiate, 
were constituted a Presbytery, to be known as the Presbytery of 
Niagara. The ministers and churches of this Presbytery have been 
already named. 

The ministers and churches comprised between the eastern 
boundary of the Presbytery of Niagara, and the dividing line be- 
tween the third and fourth ranges of townships in Phelps and Gor- 
ham's Purchase in the county of Ontario, together with Messrs. 
Warren Day, Ebenezer Everett, and Josiah Pierson, licentiates, 
were constituted a Presbytery, denominated the Presbytery of On- 
tario. With this Presbytery were connected Rev. Messrs. John 
Lindsley, Alexander Denoon, Ezekiel J. Chapman, Aaron C. Col- 
lins, Reuben Parmele, Silas Hubbard, Andrew Rawson, Ebenezer 
Fitch, D.D., and Comfort Williams, with the churches of Geneseo, 
1st Caledonia, Livonia, Honeoye (now Richmond), West Bloom- 
field, Geneseo ; 2d Pittsford, Penfield, Parma (now Ogden), Gates 
(now Rochester 1st), South Bristol, Perry, and Mount Morris. 

The Presbytery of Geneva was composed of the remaining minis- 
ters, churches, and licentiates. The territory which it occupied 
is bounded on the north by Ontario lake, on the west by the divid- 
ing line between the third and fourth ranges of townships in Phelps 
and Gorham's Purchase, on the south by the lines which at that 
time divided the counties of Seneca and Ontario from Tioga and 
Steuben, and on the east by the west boundary of the county of 
Cayuga, excepting from this territory the town of Naples. The 
ministers who composed this Presbytery were Rev. Messrs. Ben- 
jamin Bell, Charles Mosher, Howell R. Powell, Joseph Merrill, 
William Clark, Henry Axtell, Francis Pomeroy, Eleazar Fairbanks, 
Moses Young, and Stephen Porter. The churches connected with 
the Presbytery were those of Geneva, Ulysses 1st (now Trumans- 
burgh), Ovid, Palmyra, Junius (now Seneca Falls), Gorham (now 
Hopewell), Romulus, Hector, Lyons, Benton, Sodus, Phelps, Wol- 
cott (now Huron), Augusta and Gorham (now Rushville), Junius 2d, 
Galen (now Clyde), and East Palmyra. The licentiates under the 
care of the Presbytery w T ere Messrs. Daniel S. Butrick, Stephen 
M. Wheelock, and Lot B. Sullivan. Mr. Butrick has since become 
a missionary to the Cherokee Indians, under an appointment from 
the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. 

The state of the church, subsequent to the division of the Pres- 
bytery, was very prosperous. The influx of inhabitants, especially 
west of the Genesee river, was great. The number of churches 
was rapidly increasing, as also the number of members in each 



UNION OF CONGREG ATIONALISTS WITH PRESBYTERIANS. 107 



particular church. The number of ministers was also enlarged. 
In two years from the time of the organization of the Presbytery 
of Niagara, its number of ministers had increased from three to 
ten, and its churches from seven to thirty-two, with one licentiate. 
The Presbytery of Ontario, instead of nine ministers, numbered 
twenty, and instead of thirteen churches under its care, had twenty- 
three, and two licentiates. The Presbytery of Geneva had also 
experienced an enlargement. Its number of ministers had increased 
'from ten'to seventeen, and its churches from seventeen to twenty- 
three, with three licentiates. The Presbytery of Bath had remained 
nearly stationary. One of its ministers, Rev. Clement Hickman, 
who had removed to the State of Indiana previous to the organiza- 
tion of the Presbytery, had deceased. The others continued with- 
out any addition to their numbers. Three churches had been added 
to the original number, and an accession of members had enlarged 
and strengthened some of them. The Presbyteries of Ontario and 
Niagara were extended, each over a large territory, and at this 
time contained thirty ministers, fifty-five churches, and three licen- 
tiates, with the prospect of speedy accessions. In view of these 
circumstances, it was deemed expedient from these Presbyteries to 
organize two additional ones. This was effected at the meeting of 
the Synod of Geneva, at the village of Geneva, Feb. 17, 1819. A 
new^ Presbytery, denominated the Presbytery of Rochester, was 
erected from parts of the Presbyteries of Ontario and Niagara, 
bounded on the south by the south boundary lines of the towms of 
Perrinton, Pittsford, Henrietta, Riga, and Bergen, and the Tona- 
wanda swamp, west by the west boundary line of Genesee county, 
north by Lake Ontario, and east by the line which separates the 
third from the fourth range of townships in Phelps and Gorham's 
Purchase. The Presbytery of Ontario, greatly reduced in extent, 
was bounded on the north by the Presbytery of Rochester, east and 
south by its original boundaries, and west by the Genesee river. 
A new Presbytery was erected, denominated the Presbytery of 
Genesee, and bounded on the north by the Presbytery of Roches- 
ter, east by the Genesee river, south by the original south boundary 
lines of Ontario and Niagara Presbyteries, and west by the west 
boundary line of Genesee county. The Presbytery of Niagara in- 
cluded all of Western New York west of the Presbyteries of Ro- 
chester and Genesee. After this division, the Presbytery of Ontario 
consisted of twelve ministers, nine churches, and one licentiate ; the 
Presbytery of Rochester, of six ministers, ten churches, and one 
licentiate ; the Presbytery of Genesee, of six ministers and seven- 
teen churches ; and the Presbytery of Niagara, of five ministers, 
twenty churches, and one licentiate. At this time the Synod of 
Geneva contained ninety-three ministers, one hundred and forty- 
five churches, and eight licentiates, exhibiting a deplorable defi- 
ciency of ministers to supply the churches with the regular 



108 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



administration of the word and ordinances of the gospel. This 
deficiency was in a peculiar manner felt within the bounds of the 
Presbytery of Niagara, the most recently settled part of Western 
New York, where we find twenty churches with but five ministers 
and one licentiate to supply them. 

At the annual meeting of the Synod of Geneva, held at Auburn, 
October 3, 1820, the Synod then consisting of eight Presbyteries, 
and being extended over so large a territory, it was judged expe- 
dient that a division of it should be effected. Application was ac- 
cordingly made at the next meeting of the General Assembly for 
the erection of a new Synod, which was granted ; and the Assem- 
bly ordered " that the Presbyteries of Niagara, Genesee, Rochester, 
and Ontario be erected into a Synod, to be known by the name of 
the Synod of Genesee, and that they hold their first meeting 
at Rochester, on the third Tuesday of September next, and be 
opened with a sermon by the Rev. Ebenezer Fitch, D.D., or, in 
case of his absence, by the senior minister present." In accordance 
with this order, the Synod met at Rochester, on the eighteenth day 
of September, and was constituted agreeably with the manner pre- 
scribed by the Assembly. At this period, the Presbytery of On- 
tario consisted of thirteen ministers, and had under its care one 
licentiate and twelve churches. The Presbytery of Rochester con- 
sisted of twelve ministers, and had under its care three licentiates 
and fourteen churches. The Presbytery of Genesee consisted of 
eight ministers, and had under its care seventeen churches. The 
Presbytery of Niagara consisted of six ministers, and had under 
its care twenty-eight churches. The aggregate number in the 
Synod was thirty-nine ministers, four licentiates, and seventy-one 
churches. 



109 



CHAPTER X . 

The Luzerne Association. Union Association. All Congregational Associations in 
Western New York defunct. Great increase of the Presbyterian Church. Increase 
of Population. Rochester, Buffalo. Presbytery of Cortland erected. Presbytery of 
Chenango. Presbytery of Delaware detached from the Synod of Geneva and con- 
nected with the Synod of Albany. Presbytery of Angelica organized, detached from 
the Synod of Geneva, and connected with that of Genesee. Presbytery of Chemung 
constituted. Presbytery of Pennsylvania A Contrast. Presbytery of Tioga erected 
Presbytery of Ithaca. Church at the Pawnee Mission Station. Statistics of the 
Synod of Geneva. Alterations in the Boundaries of its Presbyteries. Synod of 
Genesee. Presbytery of Niagara erected. Presbytery of Buffalo. Changes in the 
Presbyteries. Statistics of the Synod of Genesee. General Remarks. 

In the preceding chapter we have narrated the proceedings of a 
convention of delegates from different ecclesiastical bodies of Con- 
gregationalists, held at Clinton in 1810. Among the ecclesiastical 
bodies there represented, the Union Association and the Luzerne 
Association were enumerated. The Luzerne Association may be 
considered as the successor of the Susquehannah Association, 
though not embracing, perhaps, all the ministers and churches that 
had been connected with that ecclesiastical body. The Susquehan- 
nah Association had become extinct, as the writer believes, previous 
to the organization of the Luzerne Association, or what, perhaps, 
was the fact, in consequence of its organization. The Luzerne 
Association was composed principally of ministers and churches 
within the county of Luzerne in the State of Pennsylvania, the 
county of Luzerne at that period comprehending all the northern 
part of Pennsylvania from the Delaware river to a considerable 
distance west of the Susquehannah. Some ministers and churches 
in the contiguous part of the State of New York were also con- 
nected with this Association. It was organized in 1810. It sub- 
sequently became the Susquehannah Presbytery, the Congregational 
churches, by special arrangement, retaining the right to administer 
the government of their churches in accordance with the princi- 
ples of Congregationalism. This event took place, probably, in 
1821, as no mention is made on the minutes of the General Assem- 
bly, of the Presbytery of Susquehannah until the year 1822. In 
1832, this Presbytery was divided, and the Presbytery of Montrose 
was constituted from the eastern part of it. What ministers and 
churches in Western New York were connected with the Luzerne 
Association, the writer has not been able to ascertain. 

The Union Association was formed by a division of the Oneida 
Association. That body, which was the first Association in the 



110 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



State of New York formed on the New England plan, had become 
somewhat numerous, and extended over a very large territory. 
At a meeting of the Association held at Westmoreland in the month 
of September, 1808, the subject of a division was taken under con- 
sideration, and a resolution was passed, dividing the Association 
into two ecclesiastical bodies, by a line corresponding with the 
south lines of the congregations of Warren, Sumner, Bridgewater, 
Sangersfield, and Augusta. The body composed of the ministers 
and churches south of this line were to constitute the Union Asso- 
ciation. But in consequence of the paucity of ministers in the 
southern division, it was agreed that all the ministers should be 
considered as members of both Associations, until the number of 
ministers in the southern division should warrant a more perfect 
separation. At this period the ministers in that part which pro- 
perly constituted the Union Association, were Rev. Roger Adams, 
pastor of the first church of Sherburne, Rev. William Williams, 
Rev. Ezra Woodworth, and Rev. Henry Chapman, pastor of the 
church of Burlington. The churches connected with the Associa- 
tion were those of Richfield, Exeter, Plainfield, Hamilton, Lebanon, 
Madison, Eaton, Sherburne first, Sherburne second, Columbus, 
Burlington, Lisbon, Hartwick, and No. 10. This latter church is 
supposed by the writer to have had its location in the tenth town- 
ship of what was called " The Governor's Purchase," being what 
has since constituted the northern part of the town of Norwich. 

At the first meeting of the Association held at Madison, June 
13th, 1809, Rev. Messrs. Simeon Snow, Joshua Knight, and Eli 
Hyde, were received as members. Mr. Daniel Nash, a licensed 
preacher of the Gospel, was ordained, and became a member of 
the Association. In consequence of this addition to the number of 
ministers, the division of the original Association was made com- 
plete. As a manifestation of the high regard entertained by the 
Association for the appropriate qualifications of those whom they 
should induct into the ministerial office, it may be noted, that at 
this first meeting they resolved, that, extraordinary instances ex- 
cepted, they would neither encourage, nor admit to examination 
before them, any applicant for license to preach, as a candidate for 
the ministerial office, unless he had received a degree at some col- 
lege, or produced evidence of having studied the languages, arts, 
and sciences under some able teacher or teachers ; nor unless he 
should be found, on examination, to possess a good degree of 
knowledge of the Latin and Greek languages, English Grammar, 
Mathematics, Logic, Rhetoric, Geography, and Natural Philosophy. 

The following ministers were received, from other ecclesiastical 
bodies, as members of the Association, during its continuance, viz. 
Rev. Messrs. Whiting Griswold, Abner Benedict, jun., John Lord, 
Jesse Townsend, Luther Gleason, Charles Thorp, John Truair, 
William Stone, Josiah Moulton, Thomas W. Duncan, and Richard 



FORMATION OF ASSOCIATIONS AND PRESBYTERIES. Ill 

Dunning. The following were received by ordination, having pre- 
viously been licensed to preach, viz. John Alexander, Jesse Miner, 
Oliver Eastman, Asa .Donaldson, Isaac W. Ruggles, Enoch Con- 
ger, and John B. Hoyt. 

The following persons were licensed to preach the Gospel, viz. 
Roswell Whitmore, William M. Adams, Ebenezer Raymond, Asa 
Donaldson, Isaac W. Ruggles, Enoch Conger, Josiah J. Buck, and 
Lyman Rexford. 

The following churches were received into communion with the 
Association after its organization, viz. Butternuts, De Ruyter, Ox- 
ford first, Oxford second (afterwards called Eastern), Nelson, Ply- 
mouth first, Coventry, Windsor, McDonough, New Berlin (after- 
wards named Lancaster), Bainbridge Green, South Bainbridge, 
Lisle second, and Chenango Forks. The following churches were 
connected with the Association, probably from the time of its or- 
ganization, but the records are not definite, viz. Guilford, Lisle 
first, Georgetown, Preston, and New Lisbon. The last named may 
be the same church which, in another place, has been called Lisbon. 

Of the ministers of the Association, Mr. Griswold deceased pre- 
vious to the dissolution of the body. Whether this was the case 
respecting any other member, is not known to the writer. The 
following were dismissed to unite with other ecclesiastical bodies, 
viz. Mr. Williams, to unite with Oneida Association ; Mr. Nash, 
with the Presbytery of Cayuga ; Mr. Townsend, with the Oneida 
Association, or the Presbytery of Oneida ; Mr. Adams, with the 
Presbytery of Onondaga ; Mr. Truair, with the Presbytery of Otse- 
go ; and Mr. Conger, with the Presbytery of Susquehannah. The 
church of Eaton was dismissed to unite with a Presbytery, and the 
churches of Norwich, and Mr. McDonough, to unite with the Pres- 
bytery of Otsego. 

The Association dissolved the pastoral relation subsisting between 
Rev. Roger Adams and the first church of Sherburne, Sept. 4th, 
1810. They installed Rev. Abner Benedict, Jun., as pastor over 
the same church, Feb. 13th, 1811, and dissolved the relation, June 
22d, 1813: — They dissolved the pastoral relation of Rev. Whit- 
ing Griswold to the church of Hartwick, but the date of the trans- 
action is not on record. They dissolved the pastoral relation of 
Rev. Henry Chapman to the church of Burlington, Sept. 4th, 1811, 
and installed him pastor of the church of Hartwick. Feb. 12th, 
1812 : — They dissolved the pastoral relation subsisting between 
Rev. Eli Hyde and the first church of Oxford. Sept. 11th, 1812 : 
— They installed Rev. John Truair pastor over the first church of 
Sherburne, July 5th, 1815, and dissolved the relation, Sept. 5th, 
1820 : — They dissolved the pastoral relation of Rev. Jesse Town- 
; send to the church of Madison, Feb. 20th, 1816, and on the fif- 
teenth day of January, 1817, installed Rev. Jesse Miner pastor of 
the same church. July 3d, 1816, Rev. Josiah Moulton was in- 

I 



112 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



stalled pastor of the church of Hamilton, and dismissed from his 
pastoral charge, July 15th, 1819 : — On the twenty-fifth day of May, 
1819, the Association installed Rev. Asa Donaldson, as pastor of 
the church of Guilford, and on the fifteenth day of February, 1820, 
a committee, previously appointed for the purpose, reported that 
they had ordained Mr. Isaac W. Ruggles to the ministerial office, 
and installed him pastor of the second church of Bainbridge. 

On the seventeenth day of February, 1818, the Association or- 
ganized a Missionary Society, Rev. Charles Thorp, President ; but 
of the subsequent operations of the society, the writer has no infor- 
mation. In their minutes of the date of Sept. 4th, 1817, they speak 
of revivals of religion in the churches, making an addition of four 
hundred and thirty-three to the number of communicants. Again, 
Sept. 5th, 1820, they say that extensive revivals have been experi- 
enced in the churches. 

At a meeting held Feb. 1 6th, 1819, the subject of a union with 
the Presbyterian church of the United States was discussed, but 
no definite action was taken ; but on the twentieth day of February, 
1822, a resolution was passed, dissolving the Association. Some 
of the ministers had previously connected themselves with a Pres- 
bytery. Most of the remaining ones soon connected with the Pres- 
byteries within the bounds of which they were respectively situ- 
ated, and most of the churches soon followed their example. 

With the dissolution of the Union Association, all the original 
congregational organizations of ministers and churches in Western 
New York had become defunct. The sentiment seemed to have 
become nearly universal, that Presbyterians and Congregationalists 
might, without collision, unite under one organization, and join all 
their powers in advancing the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom/ 
Nor has the experience of many years' trial contradicted this state- 
ment. The alienations, divisions, secessions, and excisions which 
have since taken place, have not been the consequence of the union 
of Presbyterians and Congregationalists in one ecclesiastical organi- 
zation, but have resulted from causes of an entirely different 
character. 

From this period the enlargement of the Presbyterian church in 
Western New York has been very great. The whole country was 
rapidly being reduced to a state of cultivation. The increase of 
the number of inhabitants was constant. Immigration w r as still 
continued, and the natural increase was great. Of the immigrants 
a goodly number were pious. Revivals of religion were frequent. 
The organized churches were greatly enlarged in the number of 
their members, and in their pecuniary ability to build houses of 
worship, and maintain a preached gospel. The call for an increase 
of the number of ministers was loud and earnest, to which, in a good 
measure, a favorable response was given. New churches were 
continually being formed, and the Presbyteries increasing in the 



FORMATION OF ASSOCIATIONS AND PRESBYTERIES. 



113 



number of their ministers and churches. Immediately after the 
completion of the Erie canal in 1825, the increase of population in 
Western New York was very rapid. Flourishing villages, and 
even cities, sprang up as it were by magic. The city of Rochester, 
on the site of which, in 1813, a Pagan festival accompanied with 
the sacrifice of a white dog, was held, and which at that time was 
almost entirely a wilderness, in 1834 was incorporated as a city, 
and in the following year was found to contain 14,404 inhabitants ; 
in 1840, the number had increased to 20,191 ; and in 1845, to 
25,265. So also Buffalo, which, at the commencement of the late war 
with Britain, was but an inconsiderable village, and in 1813 was 
burned and wholly destroyed by the British troops, in 1832 was 
incorporated as a city. In 1835, it numbered 15,661 inhabitants ; 
in 1840, the number was 18,213; and in 1845, had increased to 
29,773. As cities and villages now multiplied, and received large 
accessions of inhabitants, so also the population of the country at 
large was greatly increased, as may be seen by an inspection of 
the table at the close of the second chapter of this work. 

In consequence of the increased number of the ministers and 
churches in the several Presbyteries, and the extent of territory 
covered by most of them, frequent divisions became necessary to 
promote the highest interests of the Presbyterian church. At the 
meeting of the Synod of Geneva at Skeneatoles, October 4, 1825, 
the Presbytery of Onondaga was divided, and a new Presbytery to 
be named the Presbytery of Cortland was detached from it, to con- 
sist of ministers, — Rev. Messrs. Joshua Leonard, John Keep, John 
Lord, Matthew Harrison, John Brown, Caleb Clark, Hugh M. Boyd, 
Ebenezer I. Leavenworth, William J Wilcox, and Richard S. 
Corning, and the churches of Smithfield, Caz&novia, Fabius, Tully, 
Otisco, Homer, Truxton, German, Lincklaeri, Harrison, Freetown, 
Scott, De Ruyter, Nelson, and Preble. The new Presbytery were 
directed to convene at Homer on the first Tuesday of the following 
November, for full organization, which took place accordingly. At 
the same time the church of Virgil was transferred from the Pres- 
bytery of Onondaga to that of Cayuga. On the minutes of the 
General Assembly for the year 1826, we find the following record : 
" An application for the formation of a new Presbytery in the 
county of Chenango and adjacent parts in the State of New York, 
w T as taken up, when the following resolution was adopted, viz." — 

" Resolved, that the prayer of the petitioners be granted, and the 
Assembly hereby constitute the Presbytery of Chenango to be 
composed of the Rev. Edward Andrews, and the Rev. Asa Do- 
naldson, of the Presbytery of Otsego ; the Rev. Elijah D. Wells, of 
the Presbytery of Cayuga ; the Rev. Egbert Roosa, of the Presby- 
tery of Columbia ; and the Rev. Ambrose Eggleston, of the Pres- 
bytery of Susquehannah ; and to be bounded on the north by the 
Presbvtery of Oneida, on the east by the Presbyteries of Otsego 

8 



114 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



and Columbia, on the south by the Presbytery of Susquehannah, 
and on the west by the Presbyteries of Cayuga and Onondaga. 
The Assembly direct the Presbytery so constituted and bounded, 
to meet at Oxford, on Thursday the 29th day of June, at eleven 
o'clock, A.M., and that the Rev. Asa Donaldson, or, in case of his 
absence, the senior minister present, open the Presbytery with a 
sermon, and preside until a Moderator be chosen ; and the Presby- 
tery of Chenango is hereby attached to the Synod of Geneva." 
This Presbytery was organized by the order of General Assembly, 
because the ministers who composed it were connected with three 
different Synods. Their organization as a distinct Presbytery, was 
therefore making an alteration in the boundary lines of the several 
Synods, which is one of the prerogatives of the General Assembly. 
Its boundaries are not very definitely described in the act for its 
organization. It may be considered as including in its territory 
the counties of Chenango, Delaware, and a part of Broome, and 
bounded on the south by the dividing line between the States of 
New York and Pennsylvania. No churches are mentioned as con- 
nected with it at its organization, and but five ministers. In their 
report to the General Assembly the next year, they report eleven 
ministers and seven churches. The churches were those of Co- 
ventry 2d, Colesville, Guilford, Franklin, Norwich, McDonough, 
and Windsor. Of these the church of Guilford had previously 
been connected with the Presbytery of Otsego, and those of Coles- 
ville and Windsor with that of Susquehannah. The others are 
supposed to have been connected with Congregational bodies now 
extinct. This Presbytery may be considered as taking the place 
of the Union Association, although not occupying precisely the 
same territory. The number of ministers and churches of this 
Presbytery rapidly increased. In 1829 they report to the General 
Assembly fifteen ministers, three licentiates, and fourteen churches ; 
and in 1831, twenty-four ministers, two licentiates, and twenty-five 
churches. In consequence of the great extent of territory embraced 
within the bounds of this Presbytery, and the increased number of 
ministers and churches connected with it, it was judged expedient 
that a division should take place. Accordingly at the meeting of 
the Synod of Geneva in October, 1831, at the request of the Pres- 
bytery, a new Presbytery, to be denominated the Presbytery of 
Delaware, was erected, composed of the ministers and churches 
belonging to the Presbytery of Chenango, east of the Unadilla river, 
and east of the Susquehannah river below its junction with the 
Unadilla, with the exception of the church of South Bainbridge. 
They were directed to hold their first meeting at Franklin, on the 
second Tuesday of April, 1832. This Presbytery at its organiza- 
tion included eight ministers and fourteen churches. In 1840, it 
appears from the minutes of the General Assembly that the Pres- 
bytery consisted of eight ministers and nineteen churches. In that 



FORMATION OF ASSOCIATIONS AND PRESBYTERIES. 



115 



year the General Assembly passed a resolution, permitting their 
Presbytery, if such should be their election, to join the Synod of 
Albany, notice of their decision to be given to the stated clerk of 
the Assembly. In accordance with this permission, the Presbytery 
became connected with the Synod of Albany, and its particular 
relation to the Presbyterian churches of Western New York was 
terminated. 

The Presbytery of Bath, which, at its organization in 1817, com- 
prised seven ministers and seven churches, had, in 1828, increased 
to the number of fifteen ministers and twenty-five churches, and 
had under its care three licentiates. In extent of territory it reached 
from Elmira to Olean, with a width of about thirty-six miles. In 
consequence of this vast extent of territory, it was deemed expedi- 
ent that it should be divided ; the western members wishing to be 
organized as a separate Presbytery, and the others assenting. Ac- 
cordingly a new Presbytery, named the Presbytery of Angelica, 
was constituted by the act of the Synod of Geneva, at their meet- 
ing at Syracuse, Oct. 7, 1828, including the ministers and churches 
belonging to the Presbytery of Bath which were west of the divid- 
ing line between the counties of Steuben and Allegany. The 
Presbytery held their first meeting agreeably to the order of Synod, 
at Angelica, Nov. 25th, 1828. The original members were : — 
Ministers, Rev. Messrs. Robert Hubbard, Silas Hubbard, Moses 
Hunter, and Reuben Hurd. Churches — Ossian, Allen, Almond, 
Andover, Angelica, Black Creek, and Olean. At the meeting of 
the General Assembly in May, 1834, this Presbytery, on its own 
request, and by consent of the Synod of Geneva, was, on account 
of its geographical position, detached from that Synod, and annexed 
to the Synod of Genesee. The Presbytery at this time was com- 
posed of ten ministers, and had under its care nineteen churches. 

At the meeting of the Synod at Penyan, October 4th, 1836, the 
Presbytery of Bath was again divided on their request in manner 
following, viz. — All that part of the Presbytery which lay to the north 
of the south lines of the towns of Hornellsville, Howard, Bath, Tyrone, 
and Reading, continued to be the Presbytery of Bath ; the remain- 
ing part was constituted a new Presbytery, and denominated the 
Presbytery of Chemung, to hold their first meeting at Big Flats, on 
the last Tuesday of December, next ensuing. This Presbytery, at 
its organization, was composed of the following ministers, viz. — 
Rev. Messrs. David Harrowar, Charles Goodrich, Asa Donaldson, 
William M. Adams, John Frost, George Spalding, Daniel B. Butts, 
Elijah Buck, John Grey, Oren Johnson, Ethan Pratt, David I. 
Perry, and Egbert Roosa. The churches under its care were 
those of Greenwood (formerly Bennett's Creek), Troupsburgh, Jas- 
per, Woodhull, Addison, Campbell, Mede's Creek, Catlin, Havanna, 
Hornby, Erwin, Painted Post, Big Flats, Elmira, Horse Heads, 
Southport, Lawrenceville, Mansfield, Wells, and Elkland. Of the 



116 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



ministers, Messrs. Donaldson and Roosa resided within the bounds 
of the State of Pennsylvania ; the churches of Lawrenceville, Mans- 
field, Wells, and Elkland, were in the same State. In 1844, this 
Presbytery numbered twenty ministers, thirty-two churches, and 
three licentiates. Of this number five of the ministers, one of the 
licentiates, and nine of the churches, were within the bounds of the 
State of Pennsylvania. These, on their request, and with the con- 
sent of the Presbytery, were, by an act of the Synod of Geneva, 
passed October 3d, 1844, constituted a Presbytery, denominated 
the Presbytery of Pennsylvania. The ministers connected with it, 
were, Rev. Messrs. Henry Ford, Elijah D. Wells, Octavius Fitch, 
Samuel J. M'Cullough, and Samuel Porter. The churches under 
its care were, Wells, Wells and Columbia, Sullivan and Richmond, 
Covington, Laurenceville, Wellsboro', Farmington, Elkland, and 
Beecher's Island. 

The little Presbytery of Bath, which w T as organized in 1817, with 
seven ministers and eight churches, most of them very small and 
weak, had now, by division and sub-division, become four Presby- 
teries, including, in 1846, fifty-three ministers, sixty-seven churches, 
and more than five thousand communicants. Of the original mem- 
bers of the Presbytery of Bath, five have deceased, one has ceased 
to exercise the ministerial office, and the writer of these sheets alone 
remains in the performance of the functions of the ministry of re- 
conciliation on this territory. When he first commenced his minis- 
terial labors on this field, there were of the Congregational or Pres- 
byterian denominations but three ministers and four churches, on 
the territory afterwards embraced within the bounds of the Pres- 
bytery of Bath. At that period most of the territory was a wilder- 
ness. The inhabitants were comparatively few — scattered in 
groups distant from each other, and experiencing the privations and 
hardships incident to a new settlement. The roads where they ex- 
isted were in a most unimproved state, and travelling in any form 
was fatiguing. The inhabitants enjoyed few opportunities of at- 
tending on public worship, and the work of the ministry, to the few 
laborers on the field, was an arduous employment. The writer of 
these pages has been called from a distance of forty miles to preach 
a funeral sermon, being the nearest clergyman of the Presbyterian 
denomination to be obtained. He has not unfrequently travelled a 
distance of forty or fifty miles through wilderness roads, to assist 
in the organization of a new church, to afford a Sabbath's preach- 
ing, and to administer the sacraments to a destitute, feeble church, 
or to assist in a case of discipline, or give advice with a view to 
compose difficulties which had arisen in some troubled church. 
But, in the good providence of God, he has lived to see that which 
was a wilderness, both in a natural and in a moral sense, become, 
comparatively, a fruitful field, teeming with a numerous population, 
and presenting, at short intervals, houses dedicated to the worship 



FORMATION OF ASSOCIATIONS AND PRESBYTERIES. 



117 



of the triune God. For these pleasing results incessant thanks- 
givings should be rendered to the Almighty God, and to him be all 
the glory. 

The Presbytery of Cayuga, according to its report to the General 
Assembly, in May, 1829, comprised thirty-three ministers, eleven 
licentiates, and forty-three churches. It retained, at this period, 
nearly its original limits, extending across the State from the Penn- 
sylvania line, to Lake Ontario, and including the Presbyterian church 
of Kingston, in Upper Canada. In consequence of the extent of 
territory, and the greatly increased number of ministers and 
churches, a division of it became expedient. Accordingly, on ap- 
plication of the Presbytery, the Synod of Geneva, at their meeting 
in Geneva, October 6th, 1829, organized a new Presbytery, to be 
denominated the Presbytery of Tioga, and to comprehend the mi- 
nisters and congregations belonging to the Presbytery of Cayuga, 
that were on the territory lying south of the towns of Enfield, 
Ithaca, and Groton. This Presbytery was directed to hold its first 
meeting at Owego, on the third Tuesday of the then present month. 
At its organization it was composed of the following ministers, viz. 
Rev. Messrs. Jeremiah Osborne, Ebenezer Z. Leavenworth, Samuel 
Robertson, Marcus Ford, Aaron Putnam, Peter Lockwood, and 
John W. Ward. The churches under its care were those of New- 
field, Candor, Dryden, Virgil, Berkshire, Owego, Chenango Point 
(now Binghamton), Union, Richford, North Berkshire, Dauby, 
Caroline, Candor and Westville, Veteran and Spencer. 

At the meeting of the Synod at Ithaca, October 1st, 1839, the 
Presbytery of Ithaca was erected from parts of the Presbyteries of 
Cayuga, Geneva, and Tioga, and comprising the ministers and 
churches within the bounds of the county of Tompkins. The mi- 
nisters who composed it were, Rev. Messrs. William Wisner, D.D., 
Satuuel Parker, William Clark, Warren Day, Isaac Crabbe, Joseph 
K. Ware, Adams W. Piatt, Hutchins Taylor, Luther Clark, Moses 
Jewell, and Edwards A. Beach. The churches which were under 
its care, were, Ithaca, Danby, Enfield, Mecklenburgh, Burdett, 
Hector, Trumansburgh, Dryden, Peruville, Ludlowville, Newfield, 
and West Groton. Each town in the county contained, at least, 
one Presbyterian church. In addition to the churches here named 
should also be noticed the church at the Pawnee missionary station, 
among the Western Indians. This church was received under the 
care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, June 19th, 1837, Rev. Lorenzo 
W. Pease, the missionary at that station, being a member of the 
Presbytery. This mission, under the care of the American Board 
of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, was supported by the bene- 
factions of the church of Ithaca ; and, as the mission derived its 
pecuniary support from that church, it was deemed proper that the 
church at the mission station should be connected with the Presby- 
tery of Ithaca. 

These Presbyteries, the erection of which has been narrated in 



118 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



this chapter, together with the more ancient ones of Geneva, Cay- 
uga, Onondaga, and Bath, with the exception of Angelica and 
Delaware, constitute the Synod of Geneva at the present time, 
which in the aggregate includes, according to the reports of the 
Presbyteries to the General Assembly in 1846, 197 ministers, and 
42 licentiates, and 195 churches containing 20,790 communicants. 
But on account of defective reports, the reported number of com- 
municants is considerably less than the real number. 

Some changes in the boundaries of the several Presbyteries other 
than those already noticed, have from time to time been effected. At 
the meeting of the General Assembly in May, 1825, the churches 
of Granby, Oswego, and Hannibalville were transferred from the 
Presbytery of Onondaga and Synod of Geneva, to the Presbytery 
of Oswego and Synod of Albany. The same year the church of 
Virgil was, by the act of the Synod, transferred from the Presbytery 
of Onondaga to that of Cayuga. At the meeting of the General 
Assembly in May, 1827, the churches of Colesville and Windsor 
were detached from the Presbytery of Susquehanna and Synod of 
New Jersey, and placed in connexion with the Presbytery of 
Chenango and Synod of Geneva ; and at the same time the church 
of Dansville was detached from the Presbytery of Bath and Synod 
of Geneva, and connected with the Presbytery of Ontario and Synod 
of Genesee. In October, 1828, Rev. Richard S. Corning and the 
church of Otisco, by an act of the Synod, were set off* from the 
Presbytery of Cortland to that of Onondaga. In 1831, the church 
of Borodino was transferred from Onondaga to Cayuga; in 1834, 
the church of Cortlandville, from Cayuga to Cortland ; in 1835, the 
church of Virgil, from Tioga to Cortland ; and Rev. Eleazar S. 
Barrows, and the churches of Cazenovia, Smithfield, and Nelson, 
from Cortland to Onondaga ; in 1838, the church of Enfield, from 
Geneva to Tioga ; in 1840, the church of Harford, from Tioga to 
Cortland ; in 1842, the church of Cameron, from Chenango to Bath ; 
and in 1846, the church of Reading, from Bath to Chenango. These 
alterations have uniformly been made with the consent of the parties 
concerned, and with a view to their convenience. 

The Synod of Genesee, comprising the Presbyteries of Ontario, 
Rochester, Genesee, and Niagara, and which was constituted a 
separate Synod by act of the General Assembly, as has been nar- 
rated, in 1821, has experienced changes similar to those of the Synod 
of Geneva. Within the limits of this Synod are situated the now 
populous cities of Rochester and Buffalo, with many large and 
flourishing villages of recent origin. The population of the region 
at large has immensely increased, and the circumstances of the 
Presbyterian church have been in the main prosperous. The num- 
ber of ministers and churches has greatly increased, and the pecu- 
niary ability of the churches to support the institutions of religion is 
much enlarged. 

On the eighteenth of September, 1823, an additional Presbytery 



FORMATION OF ASSOCIATIONS AND PRESBYTERIES. 



119 



was, by an act of the Synod, erected from the northern part of the 
Presbytery of Niagara, and the Western part of the Presbytery of 
Rochester. Its boundaries, in the act for its erection, are described 
in manner following, viz. — On the south, by the north line of the 
county of Erie, and the south lines of the towns of Shelby and Barre; 
on the east, by the west lines of the towns of Byron, Clarendon, and 
Murray, thence by a line running north to Lake Ontario ; on the 
north, by the same lake ; and on the west, by the river of Niagara. 
This Presbytery was to be denominated the Presbytery of Niagara, 
and was directed to hold its first meeting at Royalton on the last 
Tuesday in January, 1824. The remaining part of the original 
Presbytery of Niagara received the name of the Presbytery of 
Buffalo, but retained the records of the original Presbytery. The 
Presbytery of Niagara thus constituted, comprised the following 
ministers and churches : — from the original Presbytery of Niagara, 
Rev. Messrs. David M. Smith and George Colton, and the churches 
of Royalton, Wilson, Cambria, Lockport, Lewiston, and Niagara ; 
from the Presbytery of Rochester, Rev. Messrs. Andrew Rawson 
and David Pratt, and the churches of Gaines, Barre, Shelby, and 
Ridgeway. We have already stated that the Presbytery of Angelica 
was, by an act of the General Assembly, in May, 1834, transferred 
from the Synod of Geneva to the Synod of Genesee. 

In 1828 the church of Rush was taken from the Presbytery of 
Ontario, and attached to that of Rochester ; and the churches of 
York and Moscow were taken from Genesee and attached to On- 
tario. In 1838 the church of Franklinville was detached from the 
Presbytery of Angelica, and connected with that of Buffalo ; and in 
1844 the church of Nunda was disconnected from the Presbytery 
of Angelica, and united with Ontario. 

The Synod of Genesee was organized in 1821, with four Pres- 
byteries : it now, in 1846, has six. At its organization the aggre- 
gate number of ministers was thirty-nine, and of churches seventy- 
one : in the reports to the General Assembly for the year 1846, the 
number of ministers is 136, of churches 143, and of communicants 
in those churches 16,046. The aggregate number in both synods, 
exclusive of the Presbytery of Pennsylvania, which is wholly with- 
in the State of Pennsylvania, is fifteen Presbyteries, containing 333 
ministers, 340 churches, and 36,836 communicants. Under the care 
of the Presbyteries belonging to the Synod of Geneva were, at the 
time of the report, 42 licentiates ; those from the Synod of Genesee 
were not reported. 

Although the number of ministers and licentiates considerably 
exceeds the number of churches, still a very large number of the 
churches are without pastors, and destitute of the stated preaching 
of the Gospel. A considerable number of the ministers are profes- 
sors in the Theological Seminary, teachers of Academies and High 
Schools, editors, or agents of religious and benevolent institutions ; 
and though some of these preach with frequency, they have not the 



120 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



care of a church. Some are through age or bodily infirmities 
incapacitated for stated preaching, and some, though good men 
and capable of preaching the Gospel with clearness, have not those 
popular talents necessary in this day of excitement to gain the atten- 
tion of an audience. The greater part of the licentiates have re- 
ceived their theological education at the Auburn Seminary, and 
about half of them were licensed by the Presbytery of Cayuga. 
They remain nominally under the care of the Presbytery which 
licensed them until they find a settled residence. Probably the 
greater part of them are in places without the bounds of Western 
New York. Many of the churches are small, and feeble as to pe- 
cuniary ability. Some of these are located in places of recent set- 
tlement, and others where irreligion has from the beginning prevail- 
ed, or other Christian denominations have the ascendency. Hence 
from inability, discouragement, and, perhaps, in some degree, indif- 
ference, they are without the stated preaching of the Gospel. This 
would be the case with very many of them, were it not for the aid 
afforded by the American Home Missionary Society. But though 
some of the churches are small and weak, others are large, and 
abundant in means to support the institutions of the gospel for them- 
selves, and to aid in the support of them for those who are destitute 
at home and abroad ; and with the ability they have also the ready 
mind. The Western Agency of the American Home Missionary 
Society embraces the eighteen westernmost counties in the State 
of New York. For the year ending May, 1843, it appears from 
the report, that the receipts from the field of this Agency during 
the year amounted to the sum of $10,207 78, being an increase of 
$2,767 80 over the receipts of the preceding year ; and exceeding 
the amount of appropriations to feeble churches within the Agency 
for the same period, $3,329 69. Nor does the W estern Agency 
embrace the whole region of what w r e denominate Western New 
York. The counties of Onondaga, Madison, Chenango, Cortland', 
and Broome, are not included in its field. 

When we consider that little more than half a century since, 
this whole region was a wilderness, inhabited by none but hostile 
Indians, destitute of roads and everything pertaining to civilized 
life ; when we contrast with that scene its present aspect, its nume- 
rous population, its splendid cities and villages, its cultivated farms 
and elegant habitations, its extensive manufactories, canals, and 
railroads, its numerous literary and benevolent institutions, the vast 
number of edifices erected for the worship of Jehovah, many of 
them large and splendid, the 340 organized churches w 7 ith nearly 
40,000 communicants of a single branch of the church of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, with probably a much greater number in the 
other branches, we are led in astonishment to exclaim, " What hath 
God wrought !" " This is the Lord's doing : it is marvellous in our 
eyes." We must confess that it is not by might, nor by power of 
human effort, but by the Spirit of the Lord of Hosts. 



121 



CHAPTER XI. 

The Holy Spirit : the manner of His Operation. What constitutes a Revival. Revival 
of 1799. Revival in West Bloomfield : in Ulysses: East Groton : Homer: Sher- 
burne: Pompey: Otisco : Onondaga: Coventry: Sherburne : Windsor. Extracts 
from the Minutes of the General x\ssembly, the Presbytery of Geneva, and Synod of 
Geneva. Revivals of 1816 and 1817 ; in Cazenovia, Manlius, Sherburne, Norwich, 
Homer, Ontario, Auburn, Elbridge, Genoa First Church, Cayuga Village, Locke, 
Ithaca, Newfield, Binghampton. Revival in Romulus, Lyons, Palmyra, Geneva, 
Middlesex, Gorham, East Bloomfield, Victor, Phelps, Richmond, Livonia, Mount- 
Morris. State of the Church west of the Genesee River. Revivals. Ministers 
laboring in the Region. Character of the Revivals of this period. Means and 
Measures. 

The true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ glories in acknow- 
ledging the work of the Holy Spirit in converting sinners and 
building up Zion. He knows that it is not by power of human 
effort, but by the Spirit of the Lord of Hosts, that the Church of 
Christ is built up in this world. Any enlargement of the church 
in the number of her members, which is not the result of the opera- 
tion of the Holy Spirit upon the hearts of sinners, is to be con- 
sidered as marring her beauty, and detracting from her real power. 
Hence the history of the enlargement of the church in any of her 
branches is a history of the work of the Holy Spirit on the hearts 
of mankind, turning them from darkness to light and from the 
power of Satan unto God. Without these operations of the Holy 
Spirit, the true church would soon become extinct. Amorganized 
body might remain attending on the forms of religion, but it would 
be in reality a synagogue of Satan. God gives his Spirit in a 
sovereign way, when and how he pleases, and in such measures 
as he sees fit. Sometimes his Spirit is withheld ; at others, it 
awakens and converts an individual sinner, leaving the rest to 
hardness and stupidity. At times one of a city and two of a family 
are taken, and the others are left. When God sees fit, the Spirit 
is poured out in copious showers on a congregation, in connexion 
with the use of the means which God has appointed, and many 
sinners in a short period are converted. Perhaps, in many places ? 
or through an extended region, at one and the same time this visi- 
tation of the Divine Spirit is enjoyed. In these several ways the 
church of Christ is continued in this world and enlarged. But 
especially is it the case that the church is built up by means of 
special and extensive outpourings of the Spirit, quickening saints 
and converting sinners. Such was the fact in the days of inspira- 
tion ; such has been the fact in every period of the church down 
to the present time. That such should be the case God promised 



122 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



to his church : — " I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and 
floods upon the dry ground ; I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, 
and my blessing upon thine offspring, and they shall spring up as 
among the grass, as willows by the water-courses. One shall say, 
I am the Lord's ; and another shall call himself by the name of 
Jacob ; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, 
and surname himself by the name of Israel." Such a season as 
that here promised, may with propriety be denominated a season 
of the revival of religion. Such a season a goodly portion of 
Western New York experienced in the year 1799, which year, for 
a considerable time afterwards, was spoken of as the year of the 
great revival. The history of that revival has been narrated in a 
former chapter. 

From the period of the close of the revival of 1799, no very ex- 
tended revival occurred again for a number of years. Some cir- 
cumscribed instances took place ; but as a general thing the 
churches were increased by additions of members emigrating from 
eastern churches, and by converts from the world brought in 
singly. In these ways many were added to the existing churches, 
and many new churches were organized. Occasionally a revival 
occurred in one of the churches, generally, however, of a circum- 
scribed character. Such a revival occurred in West Bloomfield, 
in 1802. The author of this work, then a licensed preacher of the 
gospel, was statedly preaching to that congregation one half of the 
time. The church at that time consisted of twenty members, only 
seven of whom were males. The congregation was small, and 
met for worship in a moderate sized school-house. The first 
symptoms of a revival were manifested in a more than usual 
attendance on public worship, and earnest attention to the word 
preached. In a short time it was known that a number of indi- 
viduals were deeply convicted of their guilty, wretched condition. 
With some their convictions came on gradually ; others, from a 
state of entire stupidity, were suddenly brought into a state of deep 
conviction ; but all were brought to consider themselves as hei- 
nous sinners against God. In this state of feeling, and with an in- 
creasing conviction of the desperate depravity of their own hearts, 
and their utter helplessness in themselves, they generally continued 
for some days, perhaps weeks, and finally with penitent hearts 
were led to cast themselves on the mercy of God through a Medi- 
ator, and thus found rest to their souls ! The revival was not 
very extensive ; perhaps as many as fourteen or fifteen were born 
again, making a goodly addition to the little church in that place, 
and laying a foundation for the settlement of a pastor. 

In 1803, the town of Ulysses was visited by a refreshing shower 
of the Holy Spirit. The little church (now the church of Tru- 
mansburgh) w 7 as without a pastor or stated supply. They were 
visited by Rev. Jedidiah Chapman of Geneva, the stated missionary 



HISTORY OF REVIVALS. 



123 



of the General Assembly, in September, 1803. Previous to his 
coming a seriousness had commenced, and several individuals had 
embraced a hope of pardon through a Mediator, and were desirous 
of uniting with the church. In preaching his first sermon, Mr. 
Chapman remarks : " The word had great power on the hearers, 
to the joy and comfort of some, and terror and awakening of 
others." After the sermon he attended with the session to the ex- 
amination of candidates for admission to the church, in which he 
remarks : " There appeared the greatest freedon and honesty in 
the persons examined, though the house was full of all sorts. Six- 
teen persons were approved, and several were put off for further 
trials. Among those approved there was one who had been a pro- 
fessed, and open, and notorious deist, who gave a very clear and 
affecting account of his awakening, conviction, and conversion be- 
fore the whole assembly, with the appearance of great modesty and 
humility. He appeared to be humble indeed at the foot of the 
cross, which he so lately ridiculed and despised. This was indeed 
a most solemn meeting, and the whole assembly seemed much af- 
fected, though there was no noise or disturbance, but a very solemn 
and silent weeping and rejoicing mixed together." The next Lord's 
day, Mr. Chapman preached, admitted sixteen persons to the com- 
munion of the church, and administered the sacraments of Baptism 
and the Lord's Supper. He says : " The assembly seemed to 
be' deeply impressed, and numbers appeared deeply distressed. 
This was truly a very solemn and joyful season. The Lord 
appeared to carry on his work here with glory and power." At 
a subsequent period, Jan., 1804, Mr. Chapman visited this church 
again, and eighteen persons were received into the church. " This," 
he says, " was truly a most solemn transaction, and had a wonder- 
ful effect on a very large assembly. The cold was extreme, ac- 
commodations but poor, yet such was the attention of the people, 
that every place was crowded by day and by night. They seemed 
never to be weary, and there was the greatest, most agreeable, and 
rational appearance of divine power attending the word and ordi- 
nances that I have ever seen in this country. I organized this 
church about a year before, consisting of only eight members, and 
now there are near fifty." 

In the winter of 1805-6, there was something of a revival in 
East Groton under the ministry of Rev. Azariah Clark, but to what 
extent the writer is not informed. In 1806-7, a refreshing season 
was enjoyed in the congregation of Homer, under the pastoral su- 
pervision of Rev. Nathan B. Darrow, during whose ministry of 
about six years, ninety-five members were added to the church. 
In Sherburne, during the ministry of Rev. Roger Adams, continued 
from August, 1806, about three years, a precious season of revival 
was enjoyed, and a number added to the church as its fruits. « A 
revival in Pompey and its vicinity, is noticed in a letter from Rev. 



124 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Hugh WalKs of Pompey, dated March 28th, 1806, and published in 
the Massachusetts Missionary Magazine. Mr. Wallis says : 

" A little east of us in this town, it hath pleased God to pour out 
his Holy Spirit, and there are between forty and fifty hopefully the 
subjects of the regenerating grace of God. There have been but 
two or three instances of hopeful conversion in this society. The 
awakening took place in the east part of the town under the preach- 
ing of Mr. Rawson, a candidate for the gospel ministry. There 
has also been some attention in a society about fourteen miles west 
of this on Marcellus Ell. and about twenty are hopefully the sub- 
jects of renewing grace. The reformation began while they had 
no stated preaching. In the time of the awakening a Mr. Colton, 
of West Hartford (Conn.), came there and preached a few weeks. 
I preached there six sermons at two visits which I made them. 
These reformations have been attended with no unusual noise nor 
tumult, but with solemnity and decency. Those who have hopeful- 
ly been regenerated, have been made sensible of their opposition 
of heart to God and divine things, and have generally been brought 
to have clear views of God's character, and of their own vileness in 
sinning against a holy God. They express a disposition to justify 
him, should he cast them off for ever. Thus it appears that God 
has not forsaken us in these goings down of the sun." 

The place here denominated Marcellus Ell. the writer supposes 
is now the town of Otisco. The town of Marcellus at that period 
embraced the present towns of Marcellus and Skeneatoles, with a 
considerable share of Spafford and Otisco. Mr. Rawson is spoken 
of as a candidate for the Gospel ministry, which, in the language of 
the emigrants from New England, means a licensed preacher. In 
1807, under the ministry of Rev. Dirck C. Lansing, something of 
a revival was experienced in the congregation of Onondaga. As 
the fruits of this revival about twenty members were added to the 
church, on profession of their faith. In 1808, in the newly orga- 
nized church of Coventry, a revival was enjoyed which added 
twenty-four members to the church. In 1810 or 1811, the congrega- 
tion of Sherburne were again visited with a gracious outpouring of 
the Spirit under the ministry of Rev. Abner Benedict, and some 
thirty or forty were added to the church as its fruit. The pastor 
of the church of Windsor, in a letter to the author, says — " Up to 
1810, additions to the church were comparatively few, and many 
of them by letter. But in 1810 and 1811, under the faithful and ear- 
nest ministrations of Rev. Messrs. Joel T. Benedict and David 
Harrowar, a precious season of refreshing was enjoyed. The 
Spirit of the Lord attended their labors, and manifested his con- 
verting presence in the hearts of many, and never has there been a 
greater revival of religion at any one period in this place. Meet- 
ings for preaching, exhortation, and prayer, were frequent for se- 



HISTORY OF REVIVALS. 



125 



veral months, and it was supposed that fifty or sixty individuals were 
brought into the kingdom of Christ." On the minutes of the Gene- 
ral Assembly for May, 1810, we find the following notice : "In the 
western parts of the State of New York, particularly in the newly 
settled regions, the progress of religion has been great : that desert 
buds and blossoms as the rose, and promises under the auspices of 
grace to become as the garden of the Lord." This is the first al- 
lusion to any revivals of religion in Western New York, that is to 
be found on the minutes of the General Assembly. Indeed there 
is an almost entire w T ant of documents relating to this subject. 
The most that can now be gleaned on this subject is from the per- 
sonal recollections of aged Christians, who have been long in the 
region. 

In June, 1808, the Presbytery of Geneva, then the only Presby- 
tery in Western New York, record — " The Great Redeemer has not 
forsaken his cause among us. His churches, attended with his 
blessed influences, increase in numbers, and abundant encourage- 
ment is afforded to his friends and followers to continue and increase 
their exertions in the great cause, which, we are assured, shall 
finally triumph in all the earth." In November, 1808, they say, 
" In some of our churches there is considerable attention to religion, 
and numbers are under serious impressions. The Great Redeemer 
is displaying his power and grace in conquering sinners, and build- 
ing up his children in faith, holiness, and comfort, which affords 
great encouragement for increasing exertions on the part of the 
ministers of Christ." In November, 1809, it is recorded, " In some 
of our congregations the Great Head of the church has been 
pleased to revive his work and build up his kingdom." On the 
minutes of the General Assembly for 1812, it is stated that several 
congregations within the bounds of the Presbyteries of Geneva and 
Cayuga had been visited with effusions of the influences of the 
Spirit. On the minutes of the Presbytery of Geneva, it is noted 
that the cause of religion was, upon the whole, in a flourishing 
state. The minutes of the Synod speak of revivals in Danby and 
Candor. During the same year a revival was enjoyed in 
Homer. This revival in Homer, a missionary states, under date 
of March, 1813, had added 160 members to the Presbyterian 
church, and between 70 and 80 to the Baptists. About 20 or 30 
more were expected to unite with the Presbyterian church. In 
1813, a measure of revival was vouchsafed to Coventry. The mi- 
nutes of the Synod of Geneva for Oct., 1812, mention revivals in 
Homer, Preble, Pompey, German, Otisco, Virgil, Skeneatoles, and 
Attica. The minutes of the General Assembly for May, 1814, 
speak of the congregations of Pompey and Homer as " eminently 
favored with these effusions of mercy." The minutes of the Pres- 
bytery of Geneva, under date of Feb. 21, 1815, state, that " though 
there has been no extensive revival of religion among us during the 



126 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



year past, yet some of our churches have received considerable 
additions to their communion ; and in two or three congregations 
there has been a serious and special attention to the concerns of the 
soul, and numbers have been hopefully converted." The minutes 
of the Synod for October of that year, speak of powerful revivals 
in Lyons and East Bloomfield. Romulus also is noted on the mi- 
nutes of the Presbytery. 

Up to this period, the revivals in Western New York" were com- 
paratively few, though the author of this work entertains no idea 
that he has been able to enumerate all that occurred in the Presby- 
terian and Congregational churches. The sources of information 
are very meagre ; and even as it respects the revivals which have 
been noted, the author has not, in most instances, been able to state 
any particulars. They were of an isolated character, and nothing 
like a period of general revival had occurred since that of 1799, 
though the churches in Western New York had greatly increased 
in numbers, not only by immigration, but also by conversions from 
the world of the ungodly. But the time had arrived in which God 
was disposed to display his power and grace in a more signal man- 
ner, in building up Zion in those ends of the earth. The years 
1816 and 1817, in Western New York, were peculiarly years of the 
right hand of the Most High. The revivals in these years were 
more numerous, and of greater extent, than in former years. The 
congregations in which revivals, in a greater or less extent, were 
experienced, in the course of these two years, were those of Caze- 
novia, Smithfield, Genoa, Manlius, Onondaga, Pompey Hill, Sher- 
burne, Homer, Norwich, Fabius, Otisco, Owasco, El bridge, Auburn, 
Scipio, Cayuga village, Genoa first church, Locke, East Groton, 
Sempronius, Ludlowville, Ithaca, Danby, Lisle, Western (now 
Berkshire), Newfield, Binghampton, Coventry, Romulus, Lyons, 
Wolcott (now Huron), Palmyra, Geneva, Middlesex and Gorham 
(now Rnshville), East Bloomfield, Victor, Richmond, Livonia, 
Parma (now Ogden), Riga, Murray (now Bergen), Mount Morris, 
Buffalo, Hamburgh, Gainsville, Eden, Willink, and Pomfret. The 
writer believes that revivals of greater or less power were experi- 
enced in a number of other congregations, but he has not the data 
to determine the point with certainty ; and with respect to the con- 
gregations named, in several instances, the sum of his information 
is, that a revival was enjoyed. But, in other instances, his informa- 
tion is of a more definite character. 

In Cazenovia, the pastor of the church, Rev. John Brown, in a 
letter dated June, 1816, says: "About the middle of December 
last, God was pleased to pour out his spirit in no inconsiderable de- 
gree. The first appearance of an awakening was a few minutes 
after the close of a prayer meeting and conference. A certain 
female mentioned to some of her companions the alarming condi- 
tion in which she viewed herself ; a divine influence appeared to 



HISTORY OF REVIVALS. 



127 



seize nearly all who were present. The next evening, I preached 
in that neighborhood ; it was as solemn a season as ever I wit- 
nessed. Numbers were soon awakened in different parts of the so- 
ciety. About fifty have been added to the church since the atten- 
tion commenced ; some now stand propounded to the church, and 
some more are to be propounded next Sabbath. Children have been 
sharers in the work ; seven or eight have been added to our church 
under the age of fourteen. There are a number of others, and one 
about seven years of age, entertaining hopes of a saving change, 
and apparently on good ground. Some are now under awakening 
influence." 

In an article in the Panoplist, under date of Dec. 25th, 1815, it is 
stated that " at Manlius, sixteen have, within a few weeks, been 
added to the church ; and, what is remarkable, the work com- 
menced among the most profligate class of people, some of whom 
now exhibit hopeful evidence of a work of grace on their hearts." 
In the town of Manlius, at this period, there were two, and perhaps 
three, Presbyterian churches. The author does not know to which 
of them the above information refers. A writer in the Religious 
Intelligencer states that in May, 1817, a revival was in progress 
in Manlius village, and that subsequently the good work was more 
visible among the people, and a number of conversions followed, in 
which the sovereignty and freeness of divine grace were strikingly 
manifested. As the result of this revival, the church, by the mid- 
dle of July following, had increased from thirty-one members to 
fifty-eight. 

At this period in Sherburne two churches of the Presbyterian or 
Congregational order existed. A revival commenced about the 
first of April,- 1816, and in a very few weeks it spread with amazing 
rapidity into almost every part of the town. As the result of this 
outpouring of the Spirit, more than two hundred members were 
added to the Presbyterian churches of Sherburne, and that of 
Smyrna, an adjacent town. The good work extended into Colum- 
bus, a neighboring town ; and at the same time the influences of 
the Spirit were shed down upon Preston, Truxton, and De Ruyter. 

In Norwich, previous to 1814, it is stated that no church existed. 
The ordinances of the gospel were neglected. Vice and immorali- 
ty, especially profaneness, greatly abounded ; and, if the Sabbath 
could be distinguished from other days, it was by being more de- 
voted to the pursuits of vanity, and the practice of iniquity. In 
June, 1814, a Congregational church was organized with twenty- 
one members. About the middle of December, 1816, it was mani- 
fest that the Spirit of God was moving on the hearts of the mem- 
bers of the church. By the close of the year, the work had become 
general ; and was deep, rapid, and irresistible. There was scarcely 
a thoughtless mind in the whole village. In a short time more 
than a hundred professed a hope in Christ. All classes were sub- 



128 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



jects of the work ; the old, and the young ; the rich, and the poor ; 
the learned, and the ignorant ; the lawyer, the farmer, and mecha- 
nic ; all alike were made to bow to the sceptre of Immanuel. In the 
month of June, it is stated, that more than sixty had united with 
the Congregational church. The revival in Homer of 1816 is 
mentioned as " a powerful revival." In the Religious Intelligencer, 
it is denominated, " a wonderful outpouring of the Spirit." The 
next February, it is noted that seventy-five had united with the 
Presbyterian church. On the minutes of the Synod for Feb. 1817, 
the number of hopeful converts is said to have been about one hun- 
dred and fifty-five. 

In Owasco it is stated, that as the fruits of a most glorious work 
of divine grace, about three hundred persons were added to the 
church, of whom one hundred and three joined it in one day. The 
church with which these persons united, is supposed to have been 
the Reformed Dutch Church in that place, then under the pastoral 
care of Rev. Conrad Ten Eyck, an eminent man of God, since 
deceased. 

In Auburn the revival commenced in April or May, 1817. At 
this time the church contained but 14 male members. Rev. D. C. 
Lansing had just commenced his labors as pastor with the church. 
At a communion season on the 4th of May, fourteen individuals 
united with the church. God was manifestly present. The mem- 
bers of the church were aroused from slumber, and with penitent 
hearts engaged in duty. Sinners were alarmed and led with soli- 
citude to inquire, "what must we do?" From this period 
the w T ork progressed with great efficacy, and in a rapid manner. 
At the communion season — the first Sabbath in August, one hun- 
dred and forty persons stood up, in presence of an immense con- 
gregation, and entered into solemn covenant with God, and with 
his people. Others were added at subsequent periods. The late 
Mr. John Oliphant, who was at that time a ruling elder in the 
church, and a most active assistant in using the means for carrying 
on this good work, says, " I believe there w 7 ere more than two hun- 
dred souls added to the church, as fruits of that revival." In El- 
bridge the late pastor states, "In 1817 the church enjoyed a revi- 
val under the pastoral care of the Rev. Jabez Chadwick." As to 
the extent of this revival the author has no information. In Cayuga 
village it is stated, that there was an extensive awakening ; but of 
its results the author is not informed. In Genoa first church, the 
pastor informs that "there was a revival in the year 1817, com- 
mencing in the summer and extending through the fall and a part 
of the winter. This work was confined to one portion of the con- 
gregation, and thirty or more were added to the church as the re- 
sult." In the town of Locke (now Groton East), a seriousness com- 
menced early in autumn, 1816. In October the work had become 
powerful, and was progressing. In February following, the pastor 



HISTORY OF REVIVALS. 



129 



wrote, " The state of things in regard to religion is very interesting 
with us. The Lord has been very gracious to this people. About 
one hundred and seventy, we hope, have been the subjects of 
divine grace, and the work continues with a good degree of power. 
Thirty were added to the church last Sabbath." 

In February, 1816, Rev. William Wisner commenced preaching 
in the village of Ithaca, on an engagement for one year. The 
church was at that time in the lowest state of depression, consisting 
of but twenty members. Of these, three of the eight male mem- 
bers were in a short time excommunicated for heresy, or gross 
immorality, and two of the females were suspended from the com- 
munion. No convenient place of worship was at command. But, 
notwithstanding the discouraging circumstances, soon after Mr. 
Wisner's ministrations commenced, some special seriousness was 
apparent in the congregation, and a number of hopeful conversions 
occurred. At the first season of communion in the Lord's Supper, 
after the arrival of Mr. Wisner, which occurred in the spring of 
1816, seventeen members were, on their profession of faith in Christ, 
added to the church ; and, in August ensuing, eleven more were 
received. In the autumn of 1817, two leading gamblers and horse- 
racers were hopefully converted, and, with about forty more indi- 
viduals, united with the church on a profession of faith. These 
were indeed times of rejoicing to the little flock in Ithaca, although 
yet much open wickedness prevailed around them. 

The minutes of the General Assembly for 1817 say, "Cayuga 
Presbytery is among those favored portions of our church, which, 
the Lord hath blessed indeed." Ithaca, Lisle, Sempronius, Scipio^ 
and Danby, have richly partaken in divine influence ; but espe- 
cially have we to mention the congregation of Locke, as particu- 
larly distinguished for those trophies of grace, which the Lord hath 
gathered to the honor of his glorious name." Respecting the re- 
vivals in Lisle, Sempronius, Scipio, and Danby, the author has no 
information beyond what is contained in the above extract. In 
1817 a measure of divine influence was felt in Newfield, in con- 
nexion with the labors of Rev. John Bascom, as the result of which 
a Presbyterian church was organized, consisting of eleven members, 
to whom about thirty more were added in a short time. In 1816, 
Rev. Benjamin Niles was employed by the people of Binghamton to 
preach to them. No Presbyterian or congregational church 
existed there at that time. A Reformed Dutch church had been 
organized there, as has been already narrated, but it had become 
nearly extinct, and was without a minister. Error and wickedness 
were exceedingly prevalent. A revival, in a small measure, im- 
mediately followed the coming of Mr. Niles. As the result of this 
a congregational church was organized, consisting of twenty mem- 
bers. The revival in Coventry in 1816 and 1817 added twenty- 
eight members to the church. Several other congregations east of 

9 



130 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



the Cayuga Lake have been mentioned as participating in these 
revivals, but the author has no definite information concerning 
them. 

Leaving this eastern portion of our territory, we would cross the 
Cayuga Bridge, and survey the territory which lies westward of 
that meridian. At Romulus, the minutes of the Presbytery for 
February, 1816, speak of a revival as in progress. On the minutes 
of the General Assembly, it is characterized as " copious and exten- 
sive." The same characteristics are given of a revival in the Con- 
gregation of Lyons, coincident with the other in point of time. 
Under date of September, 1816, it is remarked, that, — " In the towns 
of Romulus and Lyons, during the past year, the work of grace 
has been very extensive, but now appears to be on the decline." 
Wolcott is mentioned on the minutes of the General Assembly, as 
having experienced a share in this work of grace. The writer 
believes that it was comparatively small. Wolcott, at that time, 
included Huron and Rose, with only one Presbyterian church for the 
whole territory, and that composed of a small number of members. 
In September, 1816, it was stated that, in Palmyra, a glorious work 
had commenced, — that many were rejoicing in hope, while multi- 
tudes were inquiring the way of salvation. About 120 hopeful 
converts are stated on the minutes of the Synod, as the result of 
this effusion of the Holy Spirit. Geneva is also mentioned as a 
place where there was an increased attention to the things of reli- 
gion, and some hopeful subjects of divine grace. In Middlesex 
(now Rushville) there was a revival of great power and extent, 
as the result of which, 100 or more united with the church, and, 
according to the testimony of the present pastor, nearly all remained 
steadfast in the faith. At the same time, Gorham (now Hopewell) 
was visited- with the showers of the Spirit, and a goodly number 
were hopefully converted to God. In East Bloomfield, the pastor 
of the church states, that in 1816, an extensive revival was expe- 
rienced. This revival must have commenced at a somewhat earlier 
period. On the minutes of the Synod of Geneva for October, 1815, 
a powerful revival in East Bloomfield is noticed. Victor and 
Phelps are noticed in the Religious Intelligencer for September, 
1816, as places in which there was an unusual attention to the im- 
portant concerns of religion. In Richmond, the addition of fifty 
members to the church in the year 1817, manifests that the revival 
embraced that congregation. In Livonia, a correspondent of the 
Religious Intelligencer, under date of April, 1817, says : " The 
work made its appearance about the 20th of December last, in a 
district school ; and although it required much labor to detect and 
discourage self-righteous hopes, yet we have reason to hope in 
charity for at least forty ; thirty of which belonged to the school. 
On the 1st of January, a society was here formed among the young 
people, called The Juvenile Literary, Moral, and Tract Society. 



HTSTORY OF REVIVALS. 



131 



Among forty members at its commencement, there were but three 
who professed to have any hope of an interest in Christ ; now 
twenty-two more give evidence of piety.*' Mount Morris is also 
mentioned as a place in which God was manifesting his power and 
goodness, in causing sinners to embrace Jesus as the only ark of 
safety. 

In the progress of our survey of the revivals of this period in 
Western New York, beginning at the east, we have proceeded 
westward, as far as to the Genesee river. Westward of that 
boundary the country was but sparsely populated. Previous to the 
war with Great Britain, the country was being rapidly settled. 
That war, in a great measure, put a stop to the progress of the 
settlement. Indeed, many who had emigrated to the territory be- 
fore the war, removed back to the place from which they had 
emigrated, or to some place where they could feel greater security 
from the ravages of hostile Indians. But after the restoration of 
peace in 1815, the settlement of the country recommenced, and the 
progress was very rapid. With the progress of the settlement, 
religious institutions kept pace ; churches were organized, and minis- 
ters introduced. The churches, however, at the period we are now 
contemplating, were few and weak, and most of them destitute of 
the stated preaching of the word. God, in his mercy, remembered 
them in their low estate, and visited them with the reviving influence 
of his Holy Spirit. Parma, Riga, and Murray, are mentioned cs 
places where revivals were experienced of some considerable ex- 
tent ; and in the minutes of the Synod for February, 1817, Gains- 
ville, Buffalo, Hamburgh, Eden, Willink, and Pomfret, are enume- 
rated among the congregations, in which an increased attention to 
the things of religion, and some hopeful subjects of divine grace 
were found. A notice inserted in the Buffalo Gazette, at the com- 
mencement of the year 1817, says, — "It may, perhaps, rejoice the 
people of Zion, to be informed, that throughout this section of this 
lately heathen country, the Spirit of the Lord and the spirit of the 
gospel are extending far and wide. Eight persons were received 
into fellowship with the Presbyterian church at Buffalo, on last 
Lord's Day. The towns of Willink, Hamburgh, and Eden, where 
formerly the Spirit of the Evil One enchained the hearts of many, 
the stately steppings of the Redeemer are seen, and the great 
inquiry is, " What shall I do to be saved ? " 

At the period of these revivals on the Holland Purchase, minis- 
terial labor was greatly needed. Rev. Silas Hubbard had been 
settled as pastor of the church of Warsaw, in Oct., 1813, but the 
pastoral relation was dissolved on the second day of May, 1816. 
In November, in 1815, Mr. Miles P. Squier, a licensed preacher of 
the Gospel from Vermont, came to Buffalo on an invitation from 
the principal citizens of the village, to preach to them, with a view 
to a permanent residence and settlement, and on the third day of 



132 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



May, 1816, he was ordained to the work of the Gospel ministry, 
and installed pastor of the Presbyterian church of Buffalo, by the 
Presbytery of Geneva. At the time of his installation, he was the 
only settled minister having a pastoral charge over a particular 
congregation on the Holland Purchase. His labors were immedi- 
ately blessed to the conversion of souls. Rev. Hippocrates Rowe 
was installed by the Presbytery of Geneva, pastor of the congrega- 
tions of Warsaw and Orangeville, on the fourth day of December, 
1816; and Rev. Samuel Swezey, on the twelfth day of March, 
1817, was installed pastor of the congregation of Pomfret (now 
Fredonia), by the Presbytery of Niagara, which had been organized 
in February preceding. At this time Rev. Hugh Wallis was 
preaching as a stated supply in Pembroke. How long these minis- 
ters had, at this period, been laboring on this territory, is not 
known to the writer ; it was, however, but a short period. Whether 
their preaching and other labors, were instrumental in bringing on 
the revivals, or whether their coming was the result of excited 
attention connected with the outpouring of the Spirit previous to 
their coming, the writer is not able to state. Mr. David M. Smith, 
a licensed preacher of the gospel from Connecticut, was probably 
preaching in this region in 1816. He was received under the care 
of the Presbytery of Geneva, Feb. 12th, 1817, and was ordained 
and installed pastor of the congregation of Lewiston, July 1st, 1817. 
At the same time, Mr. Calvin Colton, a licentiate from the Presby- 
tery of New York, was ordained an evangelist. Mr. Colton, it is 
believed, had but newly arrived in the region, during the period of 
these revivals ; itinerating missionaries, to some extent, labored on 
this part of the moral vineyard. Some from the Genesee Mission- 
ary Society, were employed for short periods: one for a short 
period each year by the General Assembly ; but the most important 
missionary labor in this field was that of Rev. John Spencer, who 
is mentioned in a former chapter of this work, and who seems to 
have been the standing missionary of the Connecticut Missionary 
Society. His labors in the service of that Society commenced in 
1807, and were continued for a number of years, almost without 
interruption. It is believed that he was in the service of the 
Society the whole of the years 1816 and 1817, and that his labors 
were eminently useful in promoting the work of the Lord. A more 
diligent, faithful missionary, probably could not have been found. 

As to the character of the revivals in Western New York of 
this period, the author is not aware that there was anything pecu- 
liar in them to distinguish them from the revivals of preceding 
times. No new measures were adopted in addition to those which 
had by the evangelical church been considered legitimate. The 
observations which were made respecting the revival of 1799, will 
apply, with little allowance, to the revivals of this period. It is, 
however, to be observed, that in these revivals of ie>16 and 1817, 



HISTORY OF REVIVALS. 



133 



there was a vastly greater number of laborers in the spiritual har- 
vest, and consequently, much less of what might be denominated 
co-operation, than in that of 1799. Hence some greater variety in 
the manner of addressing saints and sinners, and in the mode of 
conducting religious meetings, might be expected to take place. 
Pastors were assisted at times by neighboring ministers, and vacant 
churches obtained such assistance as they could ; but such an order 
of ministers as evangelists, or technically called, " revival preachers" 
whose business it was to go from place to place and "get up a re- 
vival" and, by the use of peculiar instrumentalities, effect the con- 
version of a great many souls, was not then known. The minister 
who preached the gospel plainly, fully, earnestly, affectionately, 
and constantly, was a revival preacher, nor was it considered that 
any novelties were needed to convert souls. This was understood 
to be the proper office-work of the Holy Spirit. The revivals of 
this period are believed to have been the genuine work of the Holy 
Spirit of God ; the results on the review bear the most decided 
testimony as to the character of the work. 



134 



CHAPTER XII. 

History of Revivals continued. Synod of Geneva, 1819. Prattsburgh. From 1822 to 
1825 : 1826. Presbytery of Cayuga, Cortland Village, Marcellus, Genoa, Groton, 
Cayuga, Auburn, Ithaca, Danby, Candor. Character of the Revival, and means 
used. From 1827 to 1830. Revivals of 1831. Minutes of the General Assembly. 
Narrative of the Synod of Geneva, of the Synod of Genesee, of the Presbytery of 
Chenango, Cortland, Tigoa, Cayuga, Geneva, Bath, Angelica. Revivals in Onon- 
daga Presbytery. 

In the preceding chapter we have brought down the history of 
revivals in Western New York to the close of the year 1817. That 
and the preceding year constitute an era of revivals, memorable 
in the history of Western New York. In the years which suc- 
ceed, for a considerable period, the revivals are not so frequent, 
nor, in the general way, of equal extent. The last remark is not 
universally the case. God continued to manifest his gracious pre- 
sence with his church, in effusions of the Spirit in a greater or less 
measure, showing his readiness to grant blessings when sought 
unto in the way of his own appointment. On the minutes of the 
General Assembly for May, 1818, the Presbytery of Cayuga is 
particularly noticed as one which had been blessed with revivals 
more extensively than any other. "Out of twenty-six congrega- 
tions," it is said, " seventeen have been visited with the outpour- 
ings of the Spirit, and nearly six hundred added to the church on 
confession. Of these seventeen, the trophies of divine grace have 
been most numerous in the congregations of Ithaca, Lansing, Aure- 
lius, but chiefly Auburn." This statement undoubtedly refers in 
part to what was related in the preceding chapter. On the 
minutes of the Synod of Geneva for February, 1819, it is recorded : 
" In the extensive region which Niagara Presbytery embraces, a 
special attention may be said to have characterized the religious 
aspects of Lewiston, Clarence, Cayuga Creek, Pembroke, Gains- 
ville, Le Roy, Fredonia, and, what is particularly interesting, the 
Aborigines at their villages near Buffalo. By these special favors, 
and the more ordinary attention, the churches within the bounds 
of the Niagara Presbytery have received an animating increase. 
The Presbytery of Ontario appears to have been favored with 
some special attention in the towns of Penfield, Bloomfield, and 
Riga. The Presbytery of Geneva report a gradual reformation of 
the people within their bounds, and a uniform attendance on the 
means of grace. The town of Ulysses has experienced a copious 
refreshing, and already reckons about fifty among the professed 
converts. Within the bounds of the Cayuga Presbytery, the vil- 



HISTORY OF REVIVALS. 



135 



lage of Aurora has received an abundant effusion of the Holy 
Spirit since August last, and about fifty hopeful subjects of grace 
are reckoned among its fruits. The Presbytery of Onondaga have 
many good things for which to praise the Lord Jehovah. A deep 
and general seriousness in the course of the last year has pervaded 
the first church of Onondaga, the first church of Pompey, the vil- 
lage of Orville, the towns of Sullivan, Lenox, and Lysander, by 
which the kingdom of the Redeemer within their limits has been 
greatly increased and strengthened. The Presbytery of Bath 
presents a truly affecting instance of divine power and grace in 
the town of Prattsburgh. In the adjoining corners of Bath and 
Prattsburgh, about thirty have recently been brought to the know- 
ledge of the truth, as it is in Jesus ; and in the more central part 
of Prattsburgh, the work within two weeks past has assumed the 
most interesting features, and an overwhelming influence. Be- 
tween forty and fifty, it is credibly stated, have been hopefully born 
again, within the short compass of ten days ; and the present 
moment with that people is a season big with the prospects of 
Zion's glory, and travailing for the birth of many souls." 

The expectations of the people of God respecting this revival in 
Prattsburgh were not disappointed. It continued for some time 
with great power, and, as the final result of it, about seventy mem- 
bers were added to the Presbyterian church. Time has tested 
the genuineness of this work, and evinced in the clearest manner 
that it was a gracious work of the Holy Spirit, who alone quicken- 
eth dead sinners and imparts spiritual life. 

The years 1819 and 1820 were characterized by revivals in 
Sherburne, Smyrna, Smithfield, and neighboring towns ; Homer, 
Truxton, Coventry, Newark Valley, Ithaca, Ludlowville, Ge- 
noa, Auburn, Onondaga, Marcellus, Geneva, Phelps, Jamestown, 
and Ellicott. Some of these were very extensive, and in view of 
them it may be truly said, that a great company were obedient to 
the faith. 

In the following year we find as congregations or places visited 
in a special manner, with the gracious influences of the divine 
spirit, the names of Smithfield, Cazenovia, Lenox second church, 
Manlius third church, Onondaga second church, De Ruyter, Ger- 
man, Oxford, Virgil, Preble, Homer, Truxton, Skeneatoles, El- 
bridge, Brutus, Sennett, Auburn, Lyons, Phelps, West Bloomfield, 
Lima, Avon, Rochester, Ogden, Ridgeway, Shelby, East Riga, 
West Riga, Barre, and Royalton. It will be perceived that in this 
list of names several are the same that were named the preceding 
year. Probably the revival that commenced the preceding year 
was continued, and so became a subject of report two years in 
succession. 

During the years 1822, 1823, 1824, and 1825, the gracious visi- 
tation of the Holy Spirit was experienced in many of the congre- 



136 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



gations in Western New York. We may mention the following 
as having come to the knowledge of the writer, viz : — Sullivan se- 
cond church, Lennox first, Pompey first, Pompey second, Pompey 
third, Granby, Onondaga first, Salina, Camillus, Otisco, Sempro- 
nius, Windsor, Binghamton, Union, Ithaca, Groton, East Groton, 
Scipio second, Moravia, Milan, Waterloo, Junius second, Clyde, 
Romulus, Geneva, Phelps, Palmyra, Bellona, Middlesex, Naples, 
Prattsburgh, Pulteney, Bath, Dansville village, West Bloomfield, 
Richmond, Livonia, Mount Morris, Groveland, Orangeville, Nunda, 
Geneseo village, Pittsford, Perrinton, Chili, Wheatland, Riga, Ber- 
gen, Warsaw, Sheldon, Lockport, Buffalo, Fredonia, Cold Spring, 
and Jamestown. In many of these congregations the outpouring 
of the Spirit was abundant, and the numbers of the impenitent 
hopefully converted was great ; in some, it was a gentle refresh- 
ing shower, terminating in the conversion of a few individuals, and 
bringing them into union with the visible church. In the congre- 
gations of Mount Morris and Buffalo, the showers of the Spirit 
were repeated during these years. 

The year 1826 was peculiarly distinguished in Western New 
York as a year of the right-hand of the Most High. The rain of 
righteousness descended in copious effusions upon the congrega- 
tions of Cazenovia, Pompey first church, Cicero, Manlius first, 
Manlius second, La Fayette, Otisco, Homer, Cortland Village, Har- 
rison, Fabius, Preble, Candor, Danby, Ithaca, Ludlowville, Groton, 
Genoa, Auburn, Marcellus, Elbridge, Cayuga Village, Canandaigua, 
Marion, Huron, Parma and Greece, Lockport, Cold Spring, Buffalo, 
Indian Stations, especially Tuscarora, Aurora west, Concord, and 
Evans. The narrative of the state of religion within the Presby- 
tery of Cayuga for the year 1827, exhibits in a very affecting man- 
ner, the pow r er and the sovereignty of divine grace in these revi- 
vals. It says : " The Presbytery have at present forty-two churches 
under their care, to nine of which there has come within the past 
year a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. The in- 
fant church at Cortland village has been made greatly to enlarge 
the place of her tent. During the last winter a powerful work of 
the Spirit commenced in that place. The Spirit descended like a 
rushing mighty wind, and in its progress levelled many of the strong- 
holds of sin, the Babels of spiritual pride, the entrenchments of 
heresy, and the strongest fortresses of infidelity. Under the plain, 
unadulterated, and unadorned exhibitions of Gospel truth, small 
children, in connexion with confirmed infidels, and bold blasphe- 
mers, were heard mingling their cries for mercy. They number 
more than a hundred, as the fruits of this blessed work. 

" In Marcellus the state of religion became more interesting, 
about a year ago. There was some unusual engagedness amongst 
the members of the church. Christians began to feel the impor- 
tance of shaking off their slumbers, and awaking to greater pray- 



HISTORY OF REVIVALS. 



137 



erfulness and effort. The state of things kept gradually improving, 
till the months of April and May, at which time it became highly 
interesting. Many sinners became deeply distressed, and amongst 
others some Universalists were heard anxiously inquiring, " What 
must we do to be saved ?" and almost daily some were added to 
the number of the faithful. About forty are reckoned the hopeful 
subjects of the work. 

" In Genoa, after a long wintry season, during which almost 
everything seemed to have felt the chill of spiritual death, the ver- 
nal sun has returned with his life-giving influences. Some time 
during the month of February, the church and congregation as- 
sembled to observe a season of fasting and prayer ; and during the 
exercises of that day there was visible some unusual solemnity. 
There were some searchings of heart amongst the people of God, 
who now began to feel the importance of strengthening the things 
that remained, and which seemed ready to die. This state of feel- 
ing continued gradually to increase, till the united and agonizing 
cry of the whole church was, ' O Lord, revive thy work.' The 
influence now extended to the unconverted, and the slumbers of 
death were broken. Throughout the whole congregation there 
was very deep solemnity, and many were heard to ask the way to 
Zion, with their faces thitherward. About fifty have hopefully 
passed from death unto life, and the hope is indulged that the Spirit 
is not yet departed. 

" To the east church in Groton, the past season has been one of 
uncommon interest. On the members of that church God has been 
pleased to pour out a spirit of grace and supplications, and, in evi- 
dence of the truth of the promise that he has never said to the seed 
of Jacob, ' Seek ye me in vain,' they now tell of one hundred and 
fifty, who have begun their song of praise to him that loved them, 
and washed them from their sins in his own blood. 

" Although the passing cloud of divine influence has distilled its 
blessings less copiously on the small church of Cayuga than on 
some others, yet hopes are there entertained of twenty-five, as being 
born again to a new and divine life. 

" In Auburn, which has repeatedly heretofore been the theatre 
of the Spirit's special operation, there is at present an incipient 
revival of cheering promise. Between sixty and seventy, it is 
hoped, have shared its saving influence. 

" Upon the congregation at Ithaca, the Holy Spirit has come 
down with resistless and overwhelming power. Those doctrines 
of the cross which have ever been to some a stumbling-block, and 
to others foolishness, and against which the pride of the carnal 
heart has always aimed a deadly opposition, have there proved to 
be the power of God unto salvation. That congregation has the 
name of being always attentive to the means of grace, and on seve- 
ral previous occasions, the humbling truths of the gospel have 
found their way to the consciences of numbers of the impenitent. 



138 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



But never before has that place been favored with a work so gene- 
ral in its influence. During the two past years religion was in a 
very declining state, especially the last, and it was not till the month 
of June, 1826, that the state of things became more encouraging. 
At that time three pious females, taking a view of the desolations 
of Zion, had their hearts drawn out in prayer to Israel's God. Like 
those pious Jews spoken of by the prophet, they ' spoke often one 
to another,' to encourage each other's hearts, and to strengthen 
each other's hands. Through their united exertions, a female 
prayer-meeting was revived, which had been suffered to go down. 
The spirit of prayer thus enkindled, continued to increase and 
spread till about the middle of October, when the whole church 
seemed to travail in birth for souls. This spirit of agonizing prayer 
was in most cases not general, but specific in its objects, taking 
hold of particular individuals. To such subjects the hearts of 
Christians would often be directed, without their being able to 
assign the reason, and would be drawn forth in the most agonizing 
supplications, while for the time the dearest friends who were also 
in a Christless state, would be comparatively forgotten. These 
prayers in many cases received the most signal answers, and the 
promise was often literally fulfilled : ' While they are yet speaking, 
I will hear.' While a little group of Christians would be gathered 
together, with one accord, in one place, to pray for some distressed 
sinner without his knowledge, light would break into his soul, and 
leaving his retirement for the purpose of informing his Christian 
friends that he had found the Saviour, he has discovered them ago- 
nizing at a throne of grace on his behalf. For some time after the 
commencement of the work, it was chiefly confined to children, but 
afterwards it almost entirely left the children, and passed up to 
persons of mature age. Of the 250 hopeful converts, are to be 
found persons of every age, of every class of society, of every com- 
plexion of character, and of every grade of mental cultivation. The 
libertine has been reformed ; the man of strict morality has felt his 
need of that holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord ; 
and many a cold professor has felt the anguish of a wounded spirit, 
and been brought again to cry for mercy. There has been nothing 
noisy or disorderly in their solemn assemblies, even when the ex- 
citement was at its height ; but while sinners have been suffering 
the most awful and overwhelming agony, so that their trembling 
limbs have been actually unable to support them, the house of wor- 
ship, save the speaker's voice, has been silent as the grave. In 
most cases, the distress of mind has been most pungent, produced 
by a strong conviction of the entire alienation of the heart from 
God ; and such convictions have been usually followed by very 
comforting views of Christ as a Saviour, Almighty, and in every 
respect, All-sufficient. This revival numbers among its subjects 
more than half of the Bible class, and a goodly number both of the 



HISTORY OF REVIVALS. 



139 



teachers' and scholars of the Sabbath school, and the precious work 
still continues. 

"In the congregation at Danby, the work has been quite as pow- 
erful, and perhaps more so, in proportion to its numbers, than at 
Ithaca. The commencement of the work in both places was simul- 
taneous, and most of the remarks which have been made in refer- 
ence to the work at Ithaca, will apply also to that of Danby. The 
state both of religion and morals had antecedently been very low ; 
but, in the progress of the work, almost every house has been 
visited, and some almost whole families have been taken. The 
hopeful subjects of the work, which is still in progress, amount to 
two hundred. 

" The revival in Candor is yet in an incipient state ; twenty have 
been hopefully converted, and thirty more are in a state of deep 
anxiety. 

" The aggregate of hopeful conversions noticed in the foregoing 
details, is 900. Six hundred and seven new members have been 
added to the nineteen churches from which reports have been 
received, making an aggregate now in the communion of those 
churches, of 2,348. 

" As a general remark in reference to the above mentioned revi- 
vals," the Presbytery say, " it may be observed, that we have heard 
of no extraordinary array of means — nothing but the foolishness of 
preaching, a plain and faithful exhibition of gospel truth, the instruc- 
tion of Sabbath schools and Bible classes, and private addresses to 
the consciences of the impenitent. In almost or quite every case, 
we have heard of the conversion of sinners being preceded by a 
very uncommon spirit of prayer on the part of Christians. In regard 
to those places for which God had blessings in store, he seemed to 
say, ' I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do 
it for them.' Most of the other churches under the care of this 
Presbytery, hearing of these displays of divine power and mercy, 
have been awakened to more than ordinary engagedness in prayer, 
and we sincerely hope that this season of refreshing may not pass 
away until they have all been visited." 

The foregoing view of the revivals which occurred in the Pres- 
bytery of Cayuga, will serve as a specimen of the revivals generally 
in Western New York at that period. The writer is not aware, 
that at that period there was any very noticeable difference in the 
character of the revivals which took place, or in the means em- 
ployed to promote them. 

During the year 1827, the visitations of the Holy Spirit were in 
a considerable degree intermitted, though in some places refresh- 
ings were enjoyed. The congregations of Smithfield, Pitcher, 
Owego, Newark valley, East Groton, South port, Wayne, Ogden, 
Wheatland, Warren, and New Hudson, are noticed as watered 
with the dew of the Heavenly Spirit, in a more than ordinary 



140 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



manner. In 1828, the number of congregations visited was much 
greater, and dispersed over all parts of the field, and the number of 
souls hopefully converted to God, was very considerable. The 
author has a catalogue of nearly thirty congregations in which revi- 
vals of a greater or less extent were enjoyed in the course of the 
year. The revivals in 1829 were less numerous than in the pre- 
ceding year, yet Western New York in this year had an evidence 
that the Lord had not forsaken his heritage, and a considerable 
number of the churches were revived by the showers of the Spirit 
of God, poured out upon them, and many sinners were converted 
unto God. The congregations, in which there were special out- 
pourings of the Spirit in 1830, were more numerous than those in 
1829. The author has information of more than twenty congrega- 
tions in which the blessing was poured down in goodly measures, 
rejoicing the people of the Most High. 

But it was in the year 1831, that the most extraordinary displays 
of the power and grace of God, in reviving his work and convert- 
ing souls in Western New York, were exhibited. This year was 
emphatically a " year of the right hand of the Most High." The 
author has the names of nearly sixty congregations which shared in 
this blessed work, and he entertains no idea that the list is by any 
means complete. This work of grace was extensive and powerful, 
not only in Western New York, but generally throughout the 
bounds of the Presbyterian church in the United States, and in the 
congregational churches of New England. In the Narrative of the 
state of Religion within the bounds of the Presbyterian church, for 
May, 1832, the Assembly say, " It is our delightful privilege to re- 
port that sixty-eight Presbyteries have been blessed with the special 
influences of the Holy Spirit, reviving the churches, and bringing 
perishing sinners to the saving knowledge of the truth. In these 
highly favored Presbyteries, about seven hundred congregations are 
reported as having been thus visited in rich mercy. Several Pres- 
byteries have had their whole territory pervaded by a heavenly 
influence, and every congregation has become a harvest field for 
the in-gathering of souls to the fold of the Good Shepherd." Among 
the Presbyteries which were distinguished the preceding year, " by 
a mighty prevalence of the work of God," are included Chenango, 
Cortland, Cayuga, Geneva, Ontario, Niagara, and Buffalo. Of these, 
it is said " that all or nearly all of their churches have enjoyed a pre- 
cious season of revival." The Presbyteries of Onondaga, Tioga, and 
Bath, are included in the list of those which reported " a very inte- 
resting work of grace within their respective bounds, extending, 
however, only to a part of their congregations." The Presbytery 
of Niagara reported, that every church within their bounds had 
shared in " the ascension gift, the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit." 

The Synod of Geneva, in their Narrative of the state of religion 
within their bounds, for October, 1831, say, "At this time we are 



HISTORY OF REVIVALS. 



141 



permitted to greet each other with joyful tidings respecting the 
grace with which our labors have been crowned, and our people 
blessed. God hath wrought such wonders among us the world 
has seldom or never witnessed before ; and it is doubtful whether 
an ecclesiastical body was ever laid under obligations more sacred 
to magnify the mercy of Jehovah. From the Narratives of the 
Presbyteries which reported, it appears, that almost every church 
belonging to this body, which enjoys the stated ministrations of the 
gospel, has been favored with a revival. In many of them the 
work has been powerful, and extensive beyond the revivals of 
former years, resulting in the addition of from one hundred to two 
hundred persons to the communion, and in one instance the number 
so added is above two hundred. In others the work is less exten- 
sive, but still glorious. How many in all have been added to the 
churches, on account of the failure on the part of some Presbyte- 
ries to report, we are not able to state. In Geneva Presbytery 
there have been rising 1800. It would probably be safe to estimate 
the whole number of hopeful conversions at between four and live 
thousand. The angels of God rejoice over the repentance of one 
sinner, because this is the greatest and most joyful event that trans- 
pires in the world. How great then is their joy, and how large 
should be our gratitude in view of these thousands ! When we 
are thus permitted to meet together from the different parts of the 
field, and to sum up such results as these, with which our labors 
have been crowned, a larger and holier offering of praise to our 
God is required, than we ever before have rendered. It is also a 
subject of gratitude, that other ecclesiastical bodies through most of 
the country, have opportunity to recount the same wonders per- 
formed within their bounds. God is going through the land sub- 
duing his enemies before the cross of Christ, and adding to his 
churches in a manner which should fill his people with hope, as it 
does his foes with consternation." 

The Synod of Genesee, in their Narrative for September, 1831, 
say, " Last year only a few churches were reported as refreshed 
by the dews of divine grace ; but this year, but few within our 
bounds are left without sharing more or Jess in the blessing of God. 
The Presbytery of Buffalo report nine hundred communicants 
added to their churches during the year. Twenty churches have 
enjoyed a season of divine grace. Among the more favored in 
this respect, are, Buffalo, Sheridan, Evans, and Aurora. At Aurora, 
a protracted meeting was held the summer past, and continued 
during ten days. The assembly at last became so large, that they 
retired to a neighboring grove, where, it is thought, nearly three 
thousand people were present the last Sabbath of the meeting. 
During that meeting no less than from two hundred to three hun- 
dred hopeful conversions took place. In Genesee Presbytery, 
fifteen churches have been visited by the Holy Spirit ; and about 



142 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



nine hundred members have been added to the churches. In the 
Presbytery of Rochester, the work of God has been no less con- 
spicuous. The three churches of Rochester have increased during 
the year by the number of six hundred and thirty-five members. 
Twelve or thirteen other churches have likewise been revived, 
and very considerable additions made to the most of them. Pitts- 
ford and North Bergen have experienced a more powerful work 
of the Spirit, perhaps, than any other in that Presbytery. The 
whole number reported as added to the churches last year, is 
twelve hundred and twenty-five. The Presbytery of Niagara 
state that six hundred members have been added to the churches 
under their care, and twelve towns are reported as having received 
a revival from the Great Head of the Church. Among the churches 
most highly favored, we might name Lockport, Albion, Niagara 
Falls, and others. In Lockport, a very general effusion of the 
Spirit was had. Of one protracted meeting, the fruits in cases of 
professed conversion, were one hundred and fifty. To the church 
there, one hundred and ninety were added last year. In Ontario 
Presbytery, nearly all the churches have less or more shared in 
the blessing of God. Eleven churches have seen the Holy Spirit 
given in answer to prayer. To this branch of Zion, viz. the 
churches under the care of Ontario Presbytery, four hundred and 
ten have been added last year. In North Bristol, Lima, and Rich- 
mond, the work appears to have been most extensive and powerful. 
The aggregate number of communicants received by us last year, 
is about four thousand and thirty-five, and the number of churches 
revived and blessed, is seventy-three or seventy-four. Some nine 
or ten new churches have also been organized in the waste places 
of our moral field." 

To return to the Synod of Geneva : — The Presbytery of Che- 
nango, in their Narrative for 1831, say : "Most of our churches 
have shared more or less in the reviving influences of God's Spirit, 
and, with several of them, it has been truly a day of the right-hand 
of the Most High. An unusual number of all ages, from the child 
to the man of grey hairs, and from the self-righteous moralist to 
the most profligate and abandoned, has been hopefully brought into 
the kingdom of Christ; and in several places large accessions have 
been made to the visible church. In connexion with this, we deem 
it worthy of notice that God seemed to have owned, and signally 
blessed protracted meetings." The Presbytery of Cortland re- 
marks : " Most of the churches have been favored with a season 
of revival. The number of recent converts is estimated at about 
five hundred, most of whom have already been admitted to the fel- 
lowship of the churches. The congregations most favored, are 
Cazenovia, Smithfield, Preble, Homer, Pitcher, Freetown, and De 
Ruyter. From twenty to one hundred have been added to each 
of these churches." The Presbytery of Tioga state : " With 



HISTORY OF REVIVALS. 



143 



many of our churches the past year has been a year of the right- 
hand of the Most High. Those showers of heavenly influence, of 
which it has been our privilege to hear in so many places, and 
which seem to mark a new era in the church, have passed over our 
hills and our valleys, causing the parched desert to bloom like the 
garden of God. The churches which have been most distinguished 
by the divine mercy in these visitations, are those of Berkshire, 
Richford, Owego, Binghampton, Union, Nanticoke, Spencer, and 
Lislewest. The churches of Danby, Caroline, and Virgil, have not 
been passed by, but some drops of mercy have descended upon 
them, and some precious souls, as we hope, have been bom into 
the kingdom of God's dear Son. The number that has been added 
to the church, as the fruits of these revivals, is about four hundred, 
and the state of religion in the several places which have been 
named, is still interesting. The different agencies which have been 
employed in the production and promotion of this work, have been 
the ordinary means of grace ; intelligence of revivals in other 
places; monthly tract distribution ; temperance societies; morning 
prayer meetings ; and days of special fasting and prayer. But in 
addition to all these, the special influences of the Holy Spirit, with- 
out which the combined influence of all other causes would be to- 
tally and for ever in vain. The people of God have been excited 
to pray with uncommon fervency, ' Thy kingdom come,' and the 
promise has been, in many cases, most signally verified, ' Before 
they call, I will answer ; and while they are yet speaking, I will 
hear.'" In April, 1831, the Presbytery of Cayuga record, " The 
Spirit of the Lord has been poured upon some of our churches in a 
manner which has gladdened saints on earth, and sent joy to the 
bosoms of kindred spirits above. The churches which have been 
more especially blessed with refreshing show T ers of grace, are those 
of Elbridge, Skeneatoles, Auburn, Cayuga, Ludlowville, and Ithaca." 
To the church in Ithaca two hundred and twenty were added as 
the fruits of the revival. Feb. 14th, 1832, they say, "It has pleased 
our glorious Redeemer, who sits as King in his holy hill of Zion, to 
grant to most of the churches within our bounds, the precious effu- 
sions of the Holy Spirit, by which the hearts of Zion's friends have 
been encouraged and made glad. The number of churches under 
the care of the Presbytery is thirty-one. Of these, twenty-two 
have been represented at our present meeting, and from their re- 
ports it appears that some addition has been made to each during 
the year, and that only two have been passed by in the general 
visitation of divine influences with which the church has been 
blessed. In some of the churches, the work has been more power- 
ful and extensive than any they had before enjoyed ; in others it 
was more gradual in its progress, and the Spirit's influence distilled 
like the dew. But in all, it has been of such a character, as clearly 
displayed the sovereignty of divine grace, and proved it to be the 



144 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



work of God. The whole number added to these churches the last 
year, exceeds twelve hundred. In the several congregations their 
number has varied from fifteen to two hundred. The churches 
which have received the largest accessions are the first and second 
churches of Auburn, while in other congregations less numerous, 
the work has been equally, or even more extensive and powerful, 
in proportion to their numbers." 

Within the bounds of the Presbytery of Geneva, during the year 
1831, the work of God was great and glorious. The Presbytery 
published a Narrative of the Revivals of Religion within their 
bounds, but it is altogether too lengthy to be inserted entire in this 
work. We shall, however, endeavor to give it in a condensed 
form. In no year since the settlement of the country, had so many 
and such signal triumphs of the Redeemer's cause been witnessed. 
All the congregations which enjoyed the stated means of grace, 
were blessed with a revival. In Geneva the first indications of a 
work of graca were manifested in the Female Seminary, in the 
month of June, 1830. Others, not connected with the Seminary, 
soon became interested in the work, and though it was not power- 
ful, nor general, it continued with various degrees of interest 
through the summer and autumn, every week furnishing some new 
cases of hopeful conversion to God. Some time in January, 1831, 
the work appeared to receive a new impulse, and until about the 
last of March, the number of hopeful conversions was from twelve 
to twenty each week. From this time it gradually declined until, 
in about a year from the time of its commencement, it might be 
said to have closed. When at its greatest height, no irregularities 
were witnessed, no crying out in public worship, no boisterous ex- 
pressions of joy, no audible sighing or groaning, and, indeed, little 
else than the natural expression of a soul deeply impressed with a 
sense of guilt, or calmly reposing by faith on the Lord Jesus Christ. 
The whole number who professed a hope of renewing grace, was 
about two hundred and seventy ; of these, forty or fifty were 
members of the Female Seminary, most of whom being from 
abroad, did not unite with the church of Geneva. The number of 
those who united with the Presbyterian church of Geneva, was 
more than two hundred. Some time in November, 1830, an un- 
usual seriousness was observed in Canandaigua. An increased 
attention to the ordinary means of grace was manifest, and some 
of the church were encouraged to inciease their efforts for a gene- 
ral revival of God's work. Special seasons for fasting, humiliation, 
and prayer, and religious conference, were observed with obvious 
benefit. About the middle of January, the work might be said to 
have become general. It continued with various degrees of in- 
terest until the approach of summer, and resulted in the hopeful 
conversion of about one hundred souls. The church of Castleton, 
in 1830, had been organized about three years previous, and con- 



HISTORY OF REVIVALS. 



145 



sisted of thirty-four members. It was sustained, in part, by the aid 
of the American Home Missionary Society. The first favorable 
indications of a revival, it is said, appeared in an increased spirit 
of prayer among a few female members of the church, at their 
weekly prayer-meeting. An increasing seriousness was visible in 
the congregation, but nothing of a very marked character till 
about the middle of December. At this time a few persons were 
known to be inquiring, and a meeting for such as desired personal 
conversation on the subject of religion, was appointed. From this 
time the work became general. In the spring it declined, and 
through the summer no special interest was manifested. In Octo- 
ber a protracted meeting was held, and, in connexion with it, a 
number more professed to embrace the Saviour. The whole num- 
ber who united with the church during the year, as the result of 
this revival, was one hundred and six. The subjects of the work 
were of all ages, from the child of ten to the man of seventy. 
Early in February a favorable state of religious feeling began to be 
visible in Penyan. In consequence of this state of feeling, 
several days of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, were observed by 
the church. Soon, it was found, that some sinners were anxious 
on the subject of their souls' concern, and some were expressing a 
hope in Christ. Meetings for prayer and religious instruction were 
attended with greater frequency, and the Holy Spirit made the 
word quick and powerful. Seriousness increased, and the work of 
conversion was clearly exhibited. The work continued with un- 
diminished interest till the opening of the spring, when it began 
sensibly to decline. As the result of the revival, one hundred and 
twenty-three persons united with the Presbyterian church. Early 
in December, 1830, a work of grace commenced in the church of 
Ulysses (now denominated Trumansburgh), and continued until 
May following. It was more powerful in January than in any 
other month of its continuance. It was at no time general through- 
out the town, but was almost wholly suspended in one neighbor- 
hood when it became general in another. The number added to 
the Presbyterian church, by profession, was one hundred and 
twenty-five. At Seneca Falls (formerly denominated Junius first 
church), the state of religion began to assume a more interesting 
aspect early in the autumn of 1830. Some favorable appearances 
had been previously witnessed, and some hopeful conversions had 
occurred ; but it was not until near the close of the year, that the 
community at large seemed to be moved. The work extended to 
other parts of the town, where frequent meetings were held, and 
the usual means employed to awaken attention, and excite serious 
consideration. The work continued through the winter, and re- 
sulted in the addition of one hundred and twenty-seven to the 
Presbyterian church. 

About the last of December, 1830, a revival commenced in the 

10 



146 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



north-west part of the congregation of Phelps, and by the 1st of 
March following about fifty individuals were rejoicing in a hope of 
pardon through a Mediator. About this time the church, which 
had heretofore extended over a large territory, and worshipped 
alternately in two distinct locations, was divided, and ninety of its 
members were organized into a new church, denominated the 
church of Vienna. The agitation of this question, and the conse- 
quent dismission of the pastor, for a season had an unfavorable 
effect upon the revival. But soon after the organization of the new 
church, God was pleased to visit it in much mercy, and revive his 
work anew. As the result of this revival, eighty members were 
added to the church. In the east congregation, now denominated 
the congregation of Phelps, the work continued through the sum- 
mer, and forty-seven new members were added to that church. In 
the congregation of Lyons favorable indications were observed 
about the beginning of the year 1831. A few members of the 
church became more engaged, and manifested a deeper interest in 
the cause. The impenitent soon began to be alarmed ; the anxious 
room became thronged, and sinners were daily born into the king- 
dom. The first hopeful convert was a member of the Bible Class, 
and a Sabbath school teacher. Most of the converts were in early 
life. More than one hundred, as the fruits of this revival, were 
added to the Presbyterian Church. Near the last of March, 1831, 
in connexion with a protracted meeting of four days' continuance, 
in the congregation of Hector, a deep solemnity was manifested, 
and several hopeful conversions took place. For a season after the 
protracted meeting seriousness continued, and some instances of 
the renewing grace of God were manifested. As the result twenty- 
four individuals made a profession of religion, and united with the 
Presbyterian Church. Of this number ten were heads of families. 
Almost all the youth who were the subjects of this revival, were 
members of the Bible Class, or of the Sabbath School. In the con- 
gregation of Junius a revival commenced in March, 1831, and 
continued about three months. Its first indications were an in- 
creased spirit of prayer among the members of the church. It was 
at no time very powerful. About thirty, it is believed, experienced 
the renovating influence of the Holy Ghost. In Gorham a revival 
commenced in March, 1831, and continued about three months. In 
the latter part of the year there was a renewal of the work, and in 
the course of the year forty-one members were added to the Pres- 
byterian Church as the fruits of the revival. The congregation of 
Hopewell is not mentioned in the Narrative of the Presbytery, but 
it is known that a revival was experienced in that congregation, 
and as the result sixty-four members were added to the church. 
In the congregation of Rushville, as in several others in the near 
vicinity, the first clear indications of revival were manifested in the 
month of March, 1831. The meetings for prayer and religious 



HISTORY OF REVIVALS. 



147 



conference, as well as public services on the Sabbath, became 
crowded and solemn, and, for about three months, the work con- 
tinued without any apparent diminution of interest. The number 
who were supposed to have embraced the Saviour was about fifty. 
The church in West Dresden shared, in a comparatively small de- 
gree, in this work of God's grace, and was increased from eight 
members to twenty-seven. The church in Ovid shared in this re- 
vival, though not to the extent of some others. Thirty-eight mem- 
bers, by profession, were added to its communion in the course of 
the year. In the congregation of Williamson a revival commenced 
in March, and for about two months, the interest which w T as felt on 
the things which concern salvation was very considerable. In 
September a protracted meeting was held in one part of the con- 
gregation, which was well attended, and successful in its issue. In 
the course of the year sixty-nine members were added to the 
church on profession of their faith. The congregation of Sodus 
experienced the blessedness of a share in this work of the spirit of 
God, and forty-three persons were added to its communion, as the 
result. In Newark a deep attention to the things of religion pre- 
vailed during the spring of 1831, the only information concerning 
which that has come to the knowledge of the writer, is, that one 
hundred and seventy members were added to the church by pro- 
fession. In Palmyra the revival commenced near the last of Sep- 
tember, 1830. A few individuals began to feel and deplore the 
state of spiritual declension which at that time existed ; the spirit 
of prayer began to revive in the church, and the members, one by 
one, came up to the help of the Lord. No uncommon measures 
were used to produce excitement ; the principal means used, were 
the preaching of the word and prayer. The meetings were cha- 
racterized by great stillness and solemnity. A deep solemnity per- 
vaded the whole community, and few remained wholly unconcerned. 
Eighty-two united with the Presbyterian Church. In the congre- 
gation of Rose, a revival was enjoyed during the spring and sum- 
mer, as the result of which seventeen members were added to the 
church, which previously consisted of twenty-two members. The 
little church of Wolcott enjoyed a season of refreshing, and sixteen 
members were added to its communion, by profession. The feeble 
band at Port Bay (now Huron) shared, in a measure, in the effu- 
sion of the divine spirit, and was increased by the addition of twenty- 
five members, as the fruits of this season of reviving. Of these 
twenty had been, or then were, members of the Sabbath School. 
In Waterloo, early in February, 1831, an effort was made to ad- 
vance the cause of temperance, and almost immediately a revival 
of religion ensued. A state of religious feeling was soon indicated 
of a highly interesting character. The work was general, and for 
a short time powerful. About one hundred made a profession of 
religion. 



148 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



The state of religion in Galen (now Clyde) began to assume a 
more favorable aspect early in the spring of 1831. A pro- 
tracted meeting was held in April, which resulted favorably. 
Another was held in December, and some additional interest ex- 
cited. The number added to the church was about one hundred. 
In Benton (the church which is now called Bellona), an increased 
attention to religion began to be manifested, about the first of 
March, 1831. An unusual spirit of prayer was enjoyed by the 
members of the church, and meetings were attended by greater 
numbers, and with unusual interest. The work, however, did not 
assume the features of a revival until May. From this time cases 
of hopeful conversion were frequent for several weeks, and be- 
tween forty and fifty were added to the church by profession. In 
the congregation of Romulus, in January and February, 1831, an 
unusual fervency and importunity in prayer was manifested on the 
part of Christians. In March, an awakened anxiety was percepti- 
ble among the impenitent. Meetings were thronged ; the word of 
God was quick and powerful, and many were brought to submit 
themselves to the Lord Jesus Christ. The work continued about 
three months, and eighty-nine, as the result, united with the Pres- 
byterian church. 

In East Bloomfield, the church is congregational and indepen- 
dent. The revival commenced in one section of the town, in Oc- 
tober, 1830, and by the middle of December, it became general 
through the congregation. The services of the Sabbath, the week- 
ly lectures, and the meetings for social prayer were crowded and 
solemn. Christians appeared to feel for sinners, and sinners to feel 
for themselves. The number added to the Congregational church 
as the result of this season of visitation, was one hundred and 
eleven. 

The Presbytery of Bath, on their minutes, under date of August 
31st, 1831, say — "Since the last stated meeting, it has pleased the 
God of grace signally to bless many of our churches, by reviving 
his own believing people, and pouring out his Spirit upon souls dead 
in trespasses and sins. In consequence of this, about four hundred 
have been added to our churches. In some of our churches thus 
visited, the effects have been manifested gradually ; in others, sud- 
denly. In general, the awakening of sinners, and apparent con- 
versions, have followed unusual concern and exertion on the part 
of ministers and church members. A very special blessing has 
been noticed as the effect of plain and faithful pastoral visiting 
from house to house. One of our ministers spent his whole time 
m visiting, except that portion of it which was spent in public 
preaching. Where ministers and people had become more than 
ordinarily engaged in the use of the means of grace, continued 
prayer-meetings and preaching for several days in succession have 
been generally attended with great manifestations of God's power 



HISTORY OF REVIVALS. 



149 



over the hearts of sinners." This period of revival affected the 
greater part of the churches of the Presbytery of Bath : but was 
most powerful in the congregations of Prattsburgh and Wayne. In 
Prattsburgh, a revival had been enjoyed in 1830, which added to the 
church, by profession, twenty-nine members. In April, 1831, 
another revival occurred. The work increased through the months 
of May and June, and a goodly number expressed a hope of par- 
don through the merits of a Saviour's blood. As the fruits of this 
revival, seventy-one were added to the church on a profession of 
faith. During the year 1831, there were added on profession of 
faith in Christ, to the church of Wayne, ninety members ; to the 
church of Bath, thirty-four ; to the church of Southport, fifty-one ; 
to the church of Painted Post, thirty-two ; to the church of Howard, 
thirty-five ; to the church of Starkey, eighty-three ; to the church 
of Pulteney, fifty-seven ; to the church of Lawrenceville, twenty ; 
to the church of Campbell, twenty-seven ; to the church of Cohoc- 
ton, twenty-six ; to the church of Kennedyville, nineteen ; to the 
church of Hornby, twenty-five ; and to the church in Jasper, twenty- 
four. 

A number of the churches under the care of the Presbytery of 
Angelica partook, in a greater or less measure, of these blessed 
Influences of the Divine Spirit, and, in consequence, were enlarged 
in the number of their members. The church of Almond received, 
on profession, about eighty ; Black Creek, thirty ; Angelica, ten ; 
Portage, twenty-seven; Franklinville, fifteen ; Ossian, twenty-five ; 
Haight, ten ; Cuba, eighteen ; and Pike, twenty- four. Most of 
these churches, previous to this season of revival, were very small. 
Several of them, by the additions made in 1831, were more than 
doubled, as to the number of their members, and one or two new 
churches were organized. 

Respecting the congregations in which there were revivals with- 
in the bounds of the Presbytery of Onondaga, the author has no 
definite information, except that which is derived from the minutes 
of the General Assembly for 1832. In these minutes this Presby- 
tery is mentioned as one within whose bounds an interesting work 
of grace had been wrought. The church of Onondaga Hill is re- 
ported as having had, the preceding year, added to its communion, 
by profession, twenty-seven new members ; Onondaga Hollow, 
forty-eight ; Syracuse, ninety-four ; Salina, forty-six ; Otisco, eighty- 
four ; Manlius, fifty-eight ; Fayetteville, sixty-seven ; Ridgeville, 
sixty-three ; Pompey Hill, forty-one ; Wampsville, thirty-one ; 
OrviHe, twenty-one ; Matthews' Mills, twenty-eight. These num- 
bers added to the churches indicate revivals in the churches, as 
having been experienced, and, in several instances, revivals of great 
power. A correspondent informs, that in 1831 a very interesting 
revival occurred in the congregation of Baldwinsville, the influence 
of which is still felt in the church. The number added to this 



150 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



church is not stated. The author believes that revivals occurred 
in one or two other churches of this Presbytery, but, as they failed 
to make the proper report to the Presbytery, the number added 
to them is not stated. 



151 



CHAPTER XIII. 

History of Revivals continued. Revivals of 1832. Synod of Geneva. Presbytery of 
Bath. Synod of Genesee. Revivals of 1833. 1834, Synod of Genesee. 1835, 
Spiritual drought. 1836, not remarkable. 1837, a year of Revivals. Synod of 
Genesee, Presbytery of Buffalo, Genesee, Angelica. Synod of Geneva. Revivals 
of 1838. Continuation of Revival till 1837. 

The revivals of 1831 in Western New York were more general, 
and brought accessions to the churches in such immense numbers, 
that they constitute an era in its history deserving a peculiar 
notice. We have, on this account, been somewhat diffuse in our 
narration of them. Revivals of great interest have succeeded, but 
it will be necessary that we should be more brief in our relation 
of them. Some of the revivals which commenced in 1831 were 
protracted into the succeeding year before their termination. 
Others had their commencement and termination within the year 
1832. This year, though not to be compared with the preceding 
one, was nevertheless a year of spiritual blessings to Western New 
York. The Synod of Geneva, at their meeting in October, 1832, 
say, in their minutes, " It appears that thirty-five congregations 
within our bounds have, to some degree, experienced the reviving 
influence of the divine spirit." The Presbytery of Bath, in their 
Narrative, observe : — " Although we cannot tell of so extensive and 
powerful revivals of religion as some other parts of our beloved 
Zion, yet upon some of our churches refreshing showers of divine 
grace have fallen, and upon others the influence has been as the 
dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the moun- 
tains of Zion. About three hundred members have been added to 
the churches by profession." This statement is under date of 
August, 1832. In April of the next year, they say : — " The past 
year has been emphatically a year of the right hand of the Most 
High to many of our churches. Showers of divine grace have 
descended, and the Holy Ghost has visited us with his quickening 
and sanctifying power. As the fruits of this refreshing, about five 
hundred members have been added to our churches, and numbers 
more are indulging the hope that they have passed from death 
unto life. The congregations that have shared most largely in the 
divine influence, which the great Head of the Church has shed 
down upon us, are those of Prattsburgh, Elmira, Horse Heads, 
Southport, Mead's Creek, Havanna, Painted Post second, Howard, 
Bath, Reading, Jasper, Hammondsport, Cohocton, Wheeler centre, 
and Kennedyville." The number of five hundred, mentioned in 



152 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



this account, probably includes, in part, the three hundred men- 
tioned in the preceding account. Within the bounds of this Pres- 
bytery, ten new churches were organized, within the year preced- 
ing this narration. In some of the congregations connected with 
the Synod of Genesee revivals were granted, but by no means to 
the extent of the preceding year. In the minutes of the General 
Assembly for May, 1833, it appears that very considerable addi- 
tions were made to the churches of Rochester free church, Clark- 
son, Brockport, Medina, Buffalo free church, Buffalo German 
Evangelical, and Fredonia. The Presbyteries of Ontario and 
Genesee made no report that year. 

The year 1833 was more distinguished by revivals in the 
churches of Western New York. Among those thus distinguished 
may be named Owego, Union, Onondaga Hollow, Sennett, Auburn, 
Scipio second church, Wolcott, Campbell, Painted Post, Cuba, 
Mount Morris, Rochester Brick church, Parma, Holly, Brockport, 
Wheatland, Leroy, Pembroke, Batavia, Alexandria, Attica, Coving- 
ton, Byron, Sheldon first, Sheldon second, Arcade, Albion, Medina, 
Ridge way, Shelby, Niagara Falls, Buffalo Free, Dunkirk, Ripley, 
and Silver Creek. In some of these congregations the revival was 
but the continuation of the work of the preceding year. The 
author does not suppose that he has named all the congregations 
in which a very considerable work of the Holy Spirit was ex- 
perienced. 

During the year 1834, the work of the Spirit, in a considerable 
degree, was continued. The Synod of Genesee state, on their 
minutes, in October, that seasons of refreshing had been enjoyed 
in more than forty of the churches under their care ; that whole 
churches, by these precious visitations of mercy, had been aroused 
to new life and activity, and hundreds had been added to the church 
by a public profession of their faith in Christ. Within the bounds 
of the Synod of Geneva the revivals in the churches were not 
numerous, although a few places were visited with special ^divine 
influences, and converts added to the churches. 

In October, 1835, the Synod of Genesee state on their records: 
" There have not been as many revivals of religion as in several years 
preceding, though it appears that a healthful religious influence 
prevails, and the tone of piety under the ordinary means of grace 
is on the advance ; whilst, in many churches, the riches of redeem- 
ing mercy have been exhibited in the precious outpourings of the 
Holy Spirit." The Presbytery of Genesee mention the churches 
of Sheldon second, Orangeville, Attica, Warsaw, and Covington, 
as having experienced refreshings from the presence of the Lord. 
The Presbytery of Buffalo record that four of their churches had 
enjoyed, during the year, extensive revivals, in which about two 
hundred and fifty individuals were believed to have been converted 
unto God. In the Presbytery of Angelica, the churches of An- 



i 



HISTORY OF REVIVALS. 



153 



gelica and Andover are mentioned as having been blessed with 
revivals. To the church of Angelica seventy members were ad- 
ded by profession. Within the bounds of the Synod of Geneva 
the churches, in which revivals occurred, were few in number. 
It was a year of spiritual drought. 

The year of 1836 seems not to have been distinguished by many 
cases of powerful visitations of the Holy Spirit. The Synod of 
Geneva complain of " an evident, extended, and lamentable sus- 
pension of the influences of the Holy Spirit from the churches." 
Within the bounds of the Presbytery of Geneva, the congregations 
of Geneva, Romulus, Ovid, and Palmyra, were blessed with re- 
vivals. To the thirty-one congregations which made their annual 
report to Presbytery, two hundred and sixty members had been 
added by profession. Within the bounds of the Presbytery of 
Cayuga, the congregations of Auburn, Ithaca, and Ira, were 
visited with the tokens of the special presence of the divine Spirit 
in his converting influences. In the Presbytery of Bath, the con- 
gregation of Hammondsport, and in the Presbytery of Chenango, 
the congregation of Sherburne, enjoyed revivals. In the Synod 
of Genesee, the congregations of Ossian, Angelica, Franklinville, 
Centreville, and Almond, in the Presbytery of Angelica ; Parma 
and Greece, in the Presbytery of Rochester ; several congrega- 
tions not named, in the Presbytery of Buffalo ; Sheldon second 
church, China, Oakfield, and Leroy, in the Presbytery of Genesee, 
are reported as having been blessed with the effusions of the 
divine Spirit. 

The year 1837 was peculiarly distinguished as a year of revivals. 
The Synod of Genesee record on their minutes, under date of Oc- 
tober, 1837, " Thirty-six of our churches have enjoyed peculiar re- 
freshings from the presence of the Lord during the year ; some of 
which have been prominently distinguished for the power and glory 
of the Lord." The Presbytery of Buffalo, under date of January, 
1838, say, "Out of twenty-three churches which have reported, 
there are only three which have not been, more or less, refreshed 
from the presence of the Lord ; some have had the spirit of God 
poured out upon them in copious showers, and considerable num- 
bers have been, rescued from the paths of sin, and the bondage of 
Satan, and are now sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in their 
right mind. Other churches have been visited by less effusions of 
the Holy Spirit descending upon them, but all of them have received 
additions to their number from the world, and the effect upon the 
hearts of God's people has been to stir them up to greater activity in 
the great work of rescuing souls from death." The Presbytery of 
Genesee, under date of February 14th, 1837, state, " The churches 
of Leroy, Warsaw, Oakfield, Byron, Pembroke, Darien, and Perry 
Village, have been richly watered from on high ; in each of the two 
former, it is believed that from one hundred to one hundred and 



154 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



fifty souls have been bora of the spirit of God ; and in the others 
there have been from thirty to sixty subjects of grace. Some other 
churches, as those of Middlebury, China, Wethersfield Springs, 
Gainsville, and Sheldon second church, have enjoyed a refreshing 
from the presence of the Lord, and received additions to their num- 
bers." At a later date, Orangeville and Attica are mentioned as 
places visited with revivals. On the records of the Presbytery of 
Angelica, it is recorded, under date of May, 1837, " The churches 
that have experienced special tokens of Divine favor, are Ossian, 
Angelica, Franklinville, Centreville, and Almond. The work in Al- 
mond has been particularly precious in its fruits, and promises to be 
permanent in its results." On the minutes of the General Assembly 
for May, 1838, four churches in the city of Rochester, and the con- 
gregation of Chili, within the bounds of the Presbytery of Rochester, 
are named as places visited with revivals ; also the congregations 
of Livonia, Richmond, West Bloomfield, Genesee first church, 
Sparta second church, Mount Morris first and second churches, in 
the Presbytery of Ontario, and, in addition to those above named, 
Cuba, Hunt's Hollow, and Rushford, in the Presbytery of Angelica, 
and Castile and Bethany in the Presbytery of Genesee. Within 
the bounds of the Synod of Geneva, it is stated that several congre- 
gations in the Presbytery of Chenango ; most of those under the 
care of the Presbytery of Tioga ; in the Presbytery of Cortland, 
those of Homer and Preble ; in the Presbytery of Onondaga, the 
congregations of Wampsville, Lenox, Peterboro, Fayetteville, Man- 
lius, La Fayette, Syracuse, and Lysander ; in Cayuga Presbytery 
those of Auburn, Jordan, and Marcellus third church; Waterloo, 
Junius, Galen, Geneva, Phelps, Huron, Palmyra, Middlesex, Penyan, 
Branchport, and the independent church of Canandaigua, within the 
bounds of the Presbytery of Geneva ; several congregations con- 
nected with the Presbytery of Chemung ; the congregations of 
Kennedyville, Dundee, Prattsburgh, Howard, Wheeler, Pulteney, 
Bath, in the Presbytery of Bath, enjoyed precious seasons of re- 
freshing from the presence of the Lord, adding greatly to the num- 
ber of members in the several churches. 

The revivals of 1838 were not as numerous as those, of the pre- 
ceding year ; though sufficient to manifest that the Lord had not 
forsaken this part of his heritage. The Synod of Genesee state, that 
of the churches from which returns had been received, not less than 
fifteen had been visited with the gracious influences of the Divine 
spirit, which had resulted in the addition of some hundreds to the 
churches under their care. The Presbytery of Buffalo record, that 
to sixteen of their churches had been added, on profession of faith 
in Christ, two hundred and ninety-five members. The Presbytery 
of Genesee speak of revivals in Gainsville, Attica, Castile, Leroy, 
Pembroke, Darien, and East Bethany, during which about two hun- 
dred hopeful conversions had occurred. The Presbytery of Ange- 



HISTORY OF REVIVALS. 



155 



lica name as churches blessed with the reviving influences of the 
Holy Spirit, Allen, Almond, Cuba, New Hudson, Philipsville, and 
Friendship, as the result of which it was believed that four or five 
hundred souls had been converted to God. The Presbytery of On- 
tario speak of the state of religion as more prosperous, and of some 
churches as in a measure revived. Within the bounds of the Synod 
of Geneva, our information is defective. The Presbytery of Bath 
notice special operations of the divine Spirit on a number of their 
congregations, particularly that of Prattsburgh, in which more than 
one hundred members by profession were added to the church. 
The Presbytery of Chemung name Elmira, Southport, Horse Heads, 
and the second church of Wells, in the State of Pennsylvania, as 
having enjoyed the reviving influences of the spirit of grace. Sixty 
members were added to the church of Elmira, on profession of their 
faith. Revivals also were enjoyed in the congregations of Owego, 
Ithaca, East Groton, Auburn, Junius, Wolcott, Huron, and Phelps. 

During the year 1839, the Synod of Genesee state, that between 
thirty and forty of the congregations under their care had been 
blessed with the special outpourings of the Holy Spirit, the fruit 
of which had been the introduction into the church of some hun- 
dreds of members on the profession of their faith in Christ. Within 
the bounds of the Synod of Geneva, the Presbytery of Bath make 
mention of the gracious visitations of the divine Spirit upon the 
congregations of Rock Stream, Wayne, and Hornellsville. The 
Presbytery of Ithaca record a powerful work of the Spirit in Dan- 
by, adding sixty members to the church ; a gracious work in pro- 
gress in Ithaca, which had increased the church by an addition of 
about seventy members ; also less effusions in the congregations of 
Hector, Burdette, and Mecklenburgh. Some other congregations 
within 'the bounds of the Synod were visited ; but the year was 
not distinguished as a year of revivals, but mostly as a year of 
spiritual dearth. The year 1840 furnishes comparatively few in- 
stances of special revival. The Presbytery of Genesee mention 
the congregations of Oakfield, Byron, Pembroke, Alexander, Shel- 
don, and Bennington, as having enjoyed revivals in a greater or 
less degree. The Presbytery of Angelica, under date of July 18, 
say : " There have been, during the past year, precious seasons of 
revival enjoyed by a number of our churches. Those most signally 
blessed are Nunda, Angelica, Portage, Dansville, Burns, and Os- 
sian, as the fruits of which between three and four hundred mem- 
bers have been added to our churches during the year. Within 
the bounds of the Synod of Geneva, the instances of special out- 
pourings of the Holy Spirit were not numerous. Some of the 
churches were visited, but their number is not large. A similar 
remark may be made with reference to the year 1841. The Synod 
of Geneva state, that no revival of religion of considerable import- 
ance had been reported as then existing. They notice, however, 



156 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



that the regenerating and reviving influences of the Holy Spirit 
had not been entirely withheld from the congregations during the 
year. Refreshings from the presence of the Lord had been enjoyed 
by some of the churches in nearly every Presbytery represented. 
Within the bounds of the Synod of Genesee, the Presbytery of 
Angelica name Dansville, Centreville, Cuba, Allen, Rushford, Inde- 
pendence, and Andover, as places blessed with revivals, and state 
that the entire increase of members of churches within their bounds 
was about two hundred and fifty. The Presbytery of Ontario no- 
tice an interesting state of religious feeling in Centreville, adding 
thirty-two to the number of the members of the church ; also 
some interest in the congregations of Lima, Fowlerville, and Dans- 
ville. The Presbytery of Rochester mention revivals in Webster, 
Pittsford, and Bergen. The Presbytery of Genesee record a re- 
vival in the congregation of Byron, adding sixty members to the 
church at one time ; also hopeful conversions and additions to the 
churches in China, Elba, Sheldon first and second churches, Attica, 
and Batavia. The Presbytery of Buffalo say : " The preaching of 
the gospel has been crowned with the Spirit's gracious influences. 
The hopeful regeneration of four hundred souls, while it has called 
forth notes of joy from angel tongues, should inspire us with grate- 
ful confidence in the appointed means of conversion, and infuse 
fresh vigor into every effort to reach the conscience." 

For the year 1842, the Synod of Genesee record : " In several 
instances seasons of special refreshings of the Spirit have been 
enjoyed, and, in some cases, copious showers of divine grace have 
descended upon the heritage of the Lord. Revivals have blessed 
the churches of Silver Creek, Jamestown, Ellicottville, and Port- 
land, in the Presbytery of Buffalo ; of Attica, Batavia, and Leroy, 
in the Presbytery of Genesee ; of Ridgeway, Millville, Middleport, 
Somers, Willson. and Porter, in the Presbytery of Niagara ; of the 
first church, Brick church, third church, and Washington street 
church in Rochester, the churches of West Mendon, Clarkson, and 
North Bergen, in the Presbytery of Rochester ; and the churches 
of Lima and Geneseo village, in the Presbytery of Ontario." In 
Lima the additions to the church amounted to near seventy, in 
Geneseo village to between eighty and one hundred. The Pres- 
bytery of Angelica say : " During the past year many of our 
churches have been blessed with revivals of religion." Within 
the bounds of the Synod of Geneva, in the Presbytery of Bath, the 
congregations of Naples, Prattsburgh, Hammondsport, and Tyrone, 
were blessed with more than ordinary manifestations of the Divine 
presence. In the Presbytery of Geneva, the congregations of 
Walworth, Huron, Lyons, Clyde, and Junius, were blessed with 
refreshings from on high. Revivals also were experienced in the 
congregations of Burdette and Genoa first church. 

In 1843, in some parts of Western New York, revivals were 



HISTORY OF REVIVALS. 



157 



more numerous. The Synod of Geneva say, " The Spirit has been 
poured out from on high ; our churches have been revived, and 
men as a flock have been added to them. In many of our churches, 
great and wonderful visitations of divine mercy have been enjoyed. 
Within the bounds of some Presbyteries, hardly a church has re- 
mained unblessed, and throughout the whole extent of Synodical 
territory, it does not appear that any extensive region has been left 
altogether as a heath in the desert." The Presbytery of Onondaga 
say, " Upon the churches in Syracuse, Fayetteville, Onondaga, La 
Fayette, Lysander, Camillus, and De Witt, the Spirit has descended 
with his converting and reviving influence, and many have been 
made to hope, during these favored seasons of Zion. These refresh- 
ings have been of the happiest character upon the churches and 
community generally. Additions are reported to have been made 
by profession to nearly all the churches. Probably, some 200 or 
over have been added by profession to the churches under our 
care, during the past year." The Presbytery of Chenango say, 
" In a few churches God has graciously made bare his arm, and 
glorified his name in the humiliation of his children, and the salva- 
tion of sinners. There is a solemn attention to the means of grace, 
and an earnest importunity in prayer which betoken better days, 
and inspire the fond hope that outpourings of the Spirit will soon 
become general." The Presbytery of Tioga say, " The Lord has 
heard the prayers of his saints, and has poured out his Spirit exten- 
sively upon some of our churches." Which of the churches were 
the recipients of these blessings is unknown to the author. The 
Presbytery of Ithaca states, — " The church of Ithaca has received 
an addition of ninety members, by examination, as the fruits of a 
most interesting season of refreshing. The church in Varna has 
received an accession of forty members, the subjects of a work of 
grace in that place, during the last winter. The additions to the 
church in Burdette, by examination, are forty-five, and the revival 
of which they are the fruits has not wholly subsided. Trumans- 
burgh has been blessed in a similar manner, and thirty-six have 
been received on profession of their faith. In Danby some have 
been hopefully converted. Ludlowville has been increased from 
sixty-three to ninety-five members. Dryden has received a few 
members the past year, in addition to forty-five not before reported." 
The Presbytery of Chemung say, — " It has never been our privilege 
to report so much of the goodness of the Lord during any one year. 
Many of our churches have enjoyed precious seasons of refreshing 
from the presence of the Lord. Quite copious showers have de- 
scended upon Lawrenceville, Corning, Big Flats, Fairport, Elmira, 
Chemung, and Athens ; and more or less drops of mercy have fallen 
upon other places." In the Presbytery of Cayuga revivals were 
enjoyed in the congregations of Genoa first church, Elbridge, and 
Sennett ; in the Presbytery of Geneva, in the congregations of 



158 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Lyons, Clyde, Marion, and Junius ; and in the Presbytery of Bath, 
in the congregations of Hammondsport and Howard. The Presby- 
tery of Angelica, in the Synod of Genesee, record, — " Many of the 
churches have enjoyed precious seasons of revival. The church 
of Almond has been greatly revived during the past winter, and 
about thirty persons have been received into the church, on pro- 
fession of their faith. In Cuba, thirty have been added to the 
church ; in Nunda, seventy-seven. The churches of Friendship, 
Eagle, Pike, and Mixville, have been greatly blessed. Four hundred 
members have been added to the churches, during the past year." 
Within the bounds of the Presbytery of Ontario, the congregations 
of Victor and Springwater enjoyed seasons of revival ; in the 
Presbytery of Rochester, the congregations of Wheatland, Parma 
and Greece, and Ogden ; in the Presbytery of Niagara, the con- 
gregation of Albion ; in the Presbytery of Genesee, the congrega- 
tions of Castile, Gainsville, Sheldon first church, Sheldon second 
church, Orangeville, Pavillion, and Perry village. The Presbytery 
of Buffalo says, "Many of the churches, particularly those of Scot- 
land, Eden, East Otto, Ellicottville, First church, and Park church 
of Buffalo, Springville, Dunkirk, Hamburgh, and Silver Creek, have 
been visited with the gracious effusions of the divine Spirit, and 
large numbers have been hopefully regenerated, the most of whom 
have made a public profession of their faith in Christ." 

For the years 1844, 1845, and 1846, the author finds notices of 
revivals of greater or less extent, in the congregations of Fredonia, 
East Aurora, Eden, and Napoli, in the Presbytery of Buffalo ; New 
Hudson, Rushford, Cuba, Almond, and Andover, in the Presbytery 
of Angelica ; Mount Morris second church, and Lakeville, in the 
Presbytery of Ontario ; Holly, and Washington-street church, in 
the Presbytery of Rochester ; Painted Post village, Corning, Big 
Flat, and Havanna, in the Presbytery of Chemung ; Mecklenburgh 
and West Groton, in the Presbytery of Ithaca ; Auburn first church 
and Marcellus, in the Presbytery of Cayuga; Union, in the Pres- 
bytery of Tioga; and Windsor, in the Presbytery of Chenango. 
The author does not doubt that there have been blessed revivals, 
during this period, in congregations not here mentioned. It is, 
however, a fact greatly to be lamented, and on account of which 
the churches should be deeply humbled before God, that there has 
been, for several years past, a great dearth of revivals. God in 
anger has withdrawn from his people, and they have abundant 
reason to cry : " Return, O Lord, how long ? and let it repent thee 
concerning thy servants." 



159 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Character of Revivals in Western New York, and means employed during the last 
twenty years. Testimony of the General Assembly, Synod of Geneva, Presbytery 
of Geneva. Three and "four days' meetings. Protracted meetings. Evangelists, 
Leaders in protracted meetings, character of their preaching, Doctrine advanced. 
Rev. Charles G. Finney; Rev. Jedidiah Burehard ; Rev. Samuel G Orton ; Rev. 
James Boyle ; Rev. Augustus Littlejohn. Resolution of the Presbytery of Angelica 
respecting Rev. David Slie. Presbytery of Genesee testify against the " American 
Revivalist and Rochester Observer." Presbytery of Ontario against the course pur- 
sued by Mr. Littlejohn. Presbytery of Cayuga against Mr. Myrick. Testimony of 
the Presbytery of Chenango; of the Synod of Geneva respecting the Central Evan- 
gelical Association of INew York. Conclusion. 

We have In the preceding chapters brought down the history of 
revivals in Western New York to the present time. As much has 
been said, and written, respecting the character of the revivals 
which have been enjoyed during the past twenty years, as also re- 
specting the means which have been employed to promote them, 
and the manner in which they have been conducted, it will proba- 
bly be expected by the reader that some notice, in this work, should 
be taken of these circumstances. The writer of these pages has 
labored in the work of the ministry in Western New York, during 
a period of forty-seven years. He has not been an inattentive ob- 
server of the events which have a bearing on the interests of the 
church of Christ, which have transpired, and especially those, in 
which the purity, prosperity, and enlargement of the Presbyterian 
church in that territory is involved. He has long been a member 
of that church, cordially attached to its faith, form of government, 
and order of worship. His opportunity to inform himself respect- 
ing these circumstances has been somewhat extensive, and sufficient 
time has elapsed to test the true character of the work wrought. 
In view of all circumstances the writer feels no hesitancy in giving 
his decided sentiment, that in the great religious movements de- 
nominated revivals, which have taken place in Western New York 
within the last twenty years, God has been carrying on a most 
glorious work of his grace, which will eventuate in the final salva- 
tion of many thousands of the human family. At the same time, 
it is most apparent, that circumstances have occurred in connexion 
with these revivals, which give the most painful exhibition of the 
wickedness and folly of man, when, leaving the divine word, he im- 
agines himself wiser than God. It is not, however, to be understood 
as the opinion of the writer, that there have been circumstances 
connected with the revivals of Western New York, greatly dis- 
tinguishing them from revivals occurring at the same period in other 



160 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



parts of the land. Perhaps in every period, in which God has re- 
markably appeared to bless his church with great and plentiful out- 
pourings of the Holy Spirit, the enemy has been busy in sowing 
tares with the wheat ; and whenever the religious excitement has 
been strong, a spirit of fanaticism has been induced, and greatly 
hindered the good work, and marred its beauty. So it was in the 
glorious revival at the period of the reformation under Martin Lu- 
ther. So it was in the days of President Edwards ; and so it has 
been in later times. " Satan himself is transformed into an angel 
of light," and no wonder, if his ministers sometimes come in the 
character of "revival preachers ;" no w r onder if warm-hearted 
Christians are led astray, and, to some extent, follow false lights. 

With respect to the revivals of Western New York, within the 
last twenty years, the same means have been employed to 
promote them as have usually been employed in revivals which 
preceded. In 1830, the General Assembly, with reference to 
the revivals generally, which had been enjoyed within the bounds 
of the Presbyterian church, say, " Sabbath schools, bible classes, 
pastoral visitations ; plain, direct preaching of the word have been 
the instrumentality employed in promoting these revivals of re- 
ligion." In the narrative for 1831, in speaking of the revivals, the 
Assembly say, " In some congregations, especially in the western 
section of the State of New York, the work has been so general 
and thorough, that the whole customs of society have been changed. 
Amusements and all practices of a doubtful character, the object 
of which is simply pleasure, have been abandoned ; far higher and 
purer enjoyment is found in exercises of devotion, and engagements 
for the glory of God, and the salvation of men. Sabbath schools, 
Bible classes, the distribution of religious tracts, faithful private con- 
versation, three and four days' meetings, observing seasons of fast- 
ing and prayer, frequent prayer meetings, especially at sunrising, 
have been mentioned as means which God has blessed. But 
especially from every Presbytery where revivals exist, we learn 
that God is pleased to mark with peculiar favor every well directed 
effort to promote entire abstinence from ardent spirits." 

In the narrative for 1832, adopted at the meeting of the General 
Assembly which immediately followed the most remarkable period 
ever experienced in the Presbyterian church in the United States, 
ten of the thirteen Presbyteries then existing in Western New 
York, are particularly noticed as having been blessed with revivals. 
From the other three it is supposed that no reports were sent 
up. In this narrative the Assembly say, " A harmonious testimony 
comes from the north and the south, the east and the west, pro- 
claiming that the past has been a year of the right hand of the 
Most High." Among the circumstances which peculiarly distin- 
guish these revivals, the narrative mentions the extension of the 
work of grace ; the circumstances that so many of the subjects of 



CHARACTER OF MODERN REVIVALS. 



161 



renewing grace have been found in those classes of society in 
which instances of conversion have usually been of rare occurrence ; 
the resistless energy which accompanied the work, and the extra- 
ordinary extension of this gracious influence. The Assembly go 
on to say, " It is a very interesting and gratifying circumstance, 
that the same reports which announce these revivals, so wholly 
unexampled in number and extent, generally contain direct testi- 
mony as to the means which have been blessed to their production 
and promotion." — <; A spirit of fervent prayer, deep humiliation, 
and active effort in the churches, and a course of devoted, perse- 
vering, and judicious labors on the part of the ministry, uniformly 
preceded the displays of pardoning mercy." — " Upon another sub- 
ject of deep interest, there is a general, unbroken testimony from 
all parts of the church, which have been blessed with a refreshing 
from the presence of the Lord. We refer to the rich and precious 
blessings which have attended the numevouspro traded meetings which 
have been held throughout our borders. Whatever honest difference 
of opinion there may have been as to the utility of such convocations ; 
whatever fears may have been cherished as to their tendency, the 
question now seemed decided, that the Lord has signally owned 
and abundantly blessed them, and that the seal of divine approba- 
tion is visibly and indelibly fixed upon them. From all portions of 
the church we hear the language of praise, for the great things 
God has done by means of protracted meetings, and of the glorious 
displays of converting grace which have rendered them eminently 
seasons of mercy." The narrative also notices the influence of 
temperance societies, and the institutions which afford religious in- 
struction to the young as means which had been efficacious in 
producing and promoting these revivals. It particularly mentions 
Sunday schools and Bible classes, as accomplishing this most bene- 
volent object. " Sunday schools," it says, " have proved the nur- 
series of revivals ; their teachers have been found efficient, devoted 
laborers in gathering souls to Christ ; and their pupils have come 
in lovely bands, at the gospel call, clustered round the cross, 
given up their young hearts to God, and sung, ' Hosannah to the 
son of David : blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.' " 
The Synod of Geneva, in their narrative of the state of religion 
for 1831, say, " It is not wonderful, that in some of these revivals, 
we witness things that show the imperfection of human agents, and 
that, in the midst of our joy, we are compelled to weep over trans- 
actions that mar the good work of God; but, in general, the effects 
are obviously such as the Bible approves, and such as would, if 
they were only sufficiently increased, bring in the predicted glory 
of the latter days. In the promotion and conduct of these revivals, 
some have used means, and adopted measures, which our Fathers 
did not practise, and they have considered them valuable. Others, 
who have been fearful, and, perhaps, jealous of everything that 

11 



162 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



could in any sense be called new, have seen and enjoyed equally glori- 
ous works. Which will be the best way of conducting in future we 
shall now have full opportunity of knowing, by witnessing the fruits of 
piety and benevolence in behalf of a dying world which they shall pro- 
duce. At least, if there shall appear no difference in this respect, the 
subject will be left without importance. In these revivals we have 
received additional testimony, that efforts to carry forward the 
great objects of benevolence are the best co-operation the preach- 
ing of the gospel can receive. Where most has been done for the 
promotion of temperance, for the distribution of Religious Tracts, 
to send the gospel to the heathen, and to raise up ministers, the 
revivals have been most extensive ; and it is believed that the 
Spirit of God has visited no place where these things have been 
neglected. But, especially, we have ample and striking proof 
that the plan of God remains unchanged, to save man by the fool- 
ishness of preaching. While few, if any, congregations have been 
passed by, which enjoy the ministrations of the gospel, only a very 
few, if any, have been visited by the Spirit, which are destitute of 
this means. After all that can be done for the destitute by other 
benevolent devices, the inquiry will still be an appropriate and tri- 
umphant one — " How shall they hear without a preacher ?" 

The Presbytery of Geneva, in a published narrative of revivals 
which occurred within the bounds of the Presbytery in 1831, say : 
" This precious work, in its general features, has not been essential- 
ly different from former revivals, except that it has been more 
powerful, more extensive, and has enrolled among its subjects an 
unusual number who had been openly hostile to the truth. The 
doctrines which have held a prominent place in the preaching ge- 
nerally, are the plain and humbling doctrines of the orthodox faith : 
the doctrines of our standards ; of the Reformation, and of the 
Bible. These have been exhibited, not as matters of controversy y 
or as problems, but as matters of fact and of faith. While sinners 
have been taught to regard the depravity of their hearts as total, 
they have been also taught to regard it as consisting in their own 
voluntary rebellion against God, " whereby," as our Confession of 
Faith expresses it, " we are utterly indisposed to all good" " and 
wholly inclined to all evil :" not the want of a power, but the want 
of an inclination to do the will of God. The inability predicable 
of the sinner in his depraved condition, has been represented as the 
standards of our church very forcibly express it, as an " inability 
of will" regarding the sinner as bound at all times to keep the 
whole law, and to do the whole will of God. The doctrine of di- 
vine sovereignty and divine decrees, the doctrine of election and 
effectual calling, of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, justification 
by faith, and the final perseverance of the saints, together with all 
these leading truths, which have long been designated, by way of 
distinction, the " Doctrines of Grace," have been constantly kept in 



CHARACTER OF MODERN REVIVALS. 



163 



view as the fundamental articles of the Christian faith, and the only 
permanent foundation of Christian character. The labor generally 
has been performed by the pastors and stated ministers, as- 
sisted in prayer meetings and parochial visiting, by the elders 
and other members of the church. The young converts also have 
exerted an important influence, by personal conversation, and in 
meetings for social prayer. In some instances the labor of itine- 
rants was employed, but, with few exceptions, with no very obvious 
success. Seldom, perhaps, has the case been known, in which 
God has so obviously honored the means of his own appointment, 
in distinction from those of human invention, and the labors of a 
stated ministry, in distinction from those of itinerant evangelists, as 
in the revivals within our bounds. The means which have been 
most commonly employed, and most obviously blessed in these re- 
vivals, have been, in general, no other than the ordinary means of 
grace. In revivals of our churches, protracted meetings were 
held ; in some instances with desirable results, but in others with- 
out any apparent effect, other than might be expected from the 
preaching of the Word in other circumstances. In some places 
the practice of calling out those who were awakened, at the close 
of public worship, to take what was called " the anxious seat" was 
adopted. This practice was by no means general at any period of 
the revival, and, in some instances, where it was at first introduced, 
it was afterwards discontinued, from a full conviction that so soon 
as it ceased to interest by its novelty, no beneficial results were ac- 
complished by it. In most of our congregations the usual method 
of holding " inquiring meetings," for personal conversation and in- 
struction, has been found to secure the attendance of a much larger 
number ; to afford facilities for instruction suited to the conditions 
of each individual, and to be, all things considered, " the more ex- 
cellent way." The religious services generally have been orderly, 
still, and solemn ; never interrupted by loud and boisterous ex- 
pressions, either of grief or joy ; never rendered offensive to the 
ear of refinement by low allusions, or coarse and vulgar expres- 
sions, nor painful to the ear of piety by an irreverent and affected 
familiarity with sacred things. No quaint and questionable ex- 
pedients have been resorted to for the purpose of effect ; no audible 
praying of females in promiscuous assemblies ; nothing, in short, 
in the way of means or measures, except as above specified, which 
has not been common in conducting revivals of religion since the 
days of Edwards. From some of these remarks a few of our 
churches are to be excepted. These churches, however, were, 
with perhaps one exception, without pastors, and the innovations 
which have been made upon the ordinary modes of worship, have 
been made by itinerant preachers, who do not belong to :his Pres- 
bytery." 

With reference to the means employed to produce ard promote 



164 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



the progress of revivals in Western New York, during the period 
now under consideration, we might extend our extracts from the 
narrations of the Synods and Presbyteries to an indefinite length, 
but it is entirely unnecessary. Whatever variety may have exist- 
ed, with respect to the means employed, some things, at least, 
are acknowledged by all to be legitimate. In every place where 
there has been a revival, the public and frequent preaching of the 
word has been employed as a means of converting souls, with the 
universal acknowledgment, that it is the pure gospel of Jesus 
Christ alone that can be subservient to this end. Christians have 
been urged to be abundant and importunate in prayer, in their in- 
dividual capacity, for the salvation of souls and the progress of the 
divine work ; and wherever there has been a revival, it is believed 
that Christians ha ve so prayed : and blessed experience has taught them 
that "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth 
much." In some instances Christians have agreed on an hour, as, 
for instance, at sunrise or at nine o'clock in the evening, each by 
himself, or in family circle, to appropriate a season for special 
prayer for the descent of the Holy Spirit in his convicting and con- 
verting influences. At times they have agreed to make a particular 
individual the subject of special prayer. Meetings for social prayer, 
exhortation, and religious conference, have always been connected 
with the revivals, and employed as means of promoting them. 
Meetings of the female members of the church, by themselves, for 
prayer and conversation, have been much employed, and found to 
be very useful and animating. Christian Mothers have met, ac- 
companied by their little children, that they might in united prayer 
commend them to God, and implore for them regenerating grace. 
Such meetings have been improved as seasons of instruction and 
exhortation to the children. As the result of such meetings, it is 
believed that many children have been converted unto God. Sea- 
sons of fasting and prayer, in some instances connected with mu- 
tual confession of sins, have been observed, as means of producing 
or advancing a revival. When such meetings have been conduct- 
ed with discretion, in the spirit of humility and penitence, they 
have undoubtedly constituted an acceptable sacrifice unto God, and 
have been followed with a blessing. Conversation with individuals 
on the great concerns of the soul, connected with importunate re- 
monstrance and exhortation, has been much employed, and has 
been the means of awakening the attention of very many. Visiting 
from house to house by pastors, elders, and others, was much 
practised, and with much effect. Sometimes committees for visit- 
ation were appointed, or individuals volunteered to perform the 
service, so that two brethren should go in company, and visit each 
house in a particular district of the congregation, and have per- 
sonal conversation with each individual of the families visited. In 
this way a 1 ! the families of a congregation were sometimes visited 



CHARACTER OF MODERN REVIVALS. 



1G5 



in the same day. Perhaps, at the close of the day, or at a subse- 
quent period, the different branches of the committee would meet 
to make a report of their labor and the existing state of feeling in 
the congregation. Such a visitation, when faithfully and judicious- 
ly performed, has, at least in some instances, proved of great 
benefit in awakening attention, and bringing numbers to the house 
of God, and to an attendance on the means of grace. In con- 
nexion with other labors, the distribution of Religious Tracts has 
been mentioned as attended with a blessing. To some consider- 
able extent, a monthly distribution of tracts has been practised, in 
some instances accompanied with personal exhortation and prayer. 

In the Narrative of the General Assembly for 1831, mention is 
made of three and four-days-meetings as having been instrumental 
in promoting revivals. Respecting the origin of these meetings, 
the writer is not informed. They did not originate in Western 
New York, but were adopted as means supposed to be calculated 
to be useful, and in accordance with divine institutions. They 
were meetings of a congregation, with individuals from neighbor- 
ing congregations, for continued religious exercises during a period 
of three or four days, from which circumstance they derived their 
appellation. The pastor of the church in which the meeting was 
held, usually invited two or three of the neighboring pastors, or 
officiating ministers, to aid him in the conduct of the meeting. Per- 
haps, for a season preceding the day for the meeting to commence, 
something of a preparatory work was in progress. The pastor, in 
his instructions, would call the attention of the church and the con- 
gregation to the subject of the contemplated meeting ; the object to 
be attained by it, or to be sought through its instrumentality ; the 
preparation of heart necessary to seek God acceptably ; and the 
necessity of divine aid to realize any beneficial results. The mem- 
bers of the congregation would endeavor to order their temporal 
affairs in such a manner, as to enable them to devote their time to 
an attendance on the meeting, without the distraction of other cares. 
Sometimes the appointment of the meeting was the result of a state 
of awakened attention already commenced in the congregation. 
During the period of the meeting, preaching was attended, ordina- 
rily twice, and sometimes three times each day, the ministers alter- 
nating in this exercise. Meetings for prayer and exhortation were 
attended in the morning, previous to the exercise of preaching ; 
sometimes at the rising of the sun and again at nine o'clock. Ano- 
ther meeting of the same description was usually attended in the 
evening. At these meetings the ministers, elders, and brethren, 
took part in the services, sometimes as called upon by the pastor, 
and sometimes of their own accord. At the close of the sermon, 
in some instances it was practised to invite the anxious to a seat by 
themselves for the purpose of a short season of personal conver- 
sation with them individually, and to commend their case to God 



166 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



in prayer for the bestowment of the regenerating influences of the 
Holy Spirit. At other times persons of this description were 
invited to retire to a more private apartment, where one or two of 
the ministers, and, perhaps, a few others would meet them for a 
short season of personal conversation ; in the meantime the larger 
portion of the congregation, with one or two of the ministers, 
remained in the place of worship, engaged in exercises of prayer. 
At times during a season of prayer, or at the commencement of 
such a season, those who felt solicitous respecting the salvation of 
their souls, and desired the prayers of Christians in their behalf, 
were requested to signify it by rising in their seats. Prayer was 
then offered unto God in their behalf. The character of these 
meetings, as a matter of course, would vary in some degree, accord- 
ing to different tastes and views of the different individuals who had 
the chief conduct of them. For some time after their introduction, 
the pastor, or officiating minister of the congregation, presided in 
the services ; other ministers, on his request, came to assist, not to 
direct him ; the preaching generally was sound and orthodox ; and 
the meetings conducted orderly and judiciously, and to great profit, 
to souls. There were exceptions to this rule; instances in which 
the preaching was rant, the meeting noisy and confused, the pray- 
ing of a description painful to the feelings of the humble Christian., 
and the instruction entirely erroneous or grossly defective. Some 
of the sisters in some instances, forgetting apostolic precept, 
claimed it as their privilege, in public and promiscuous meetings, to 
lead in prayer and to address exhortation to the congregation ; and 
there were ministers who upheld and encouraged them in this prac- 
tice. But these things were not the general rule ; they were the 
exception, and, as the author believes, of comparatively rare occur- 
rence. These irregularities, to a considerable extent, brought dis- 
credit on the revivals in Western New York, and were an occasion 
of deep regret to the great body of the clergy and laity of the 
Presbyterian church in the region. 

These meetings, after a season, were prolonged to a greater 
length, and received the appellation of "protracted meetings.''' 
The period of the continuance of one of these depended very much 
on circumstances, varying from eight or ten days up to thirty. 
The amount of the public religious exercises, at these meetings, in 
a single day, was, generally, not so great as had been the case in 
those of shorter continuance. Sometimes meetings were held only 
in the evening ; but ordinarily the afternoon and evening were de- 
voted to public services. As to the manner of conducting these 
meetings, there was some variety. The exercises, however, were 
of the same character with those of the meetings which preceded 
them. These meetings were, for a number of years, of very fre- 
quent occurrence in Western New York, and are not wholly laid 
aside at the present time, though held with much less frequency. 



CHARACTER OF MODERN REVIVALS. 



167 



Nor were they peculiar to Western New York, but extended 
throughout all parts of the Presbyterian Church, and other evan- 
gelical denominations in the United States, where revivals abounded. 
The General Assembly, in their Narration for 1832, say, " Upon 
another subject of deep interest, there is a general unbroken testi- 
mony from all parts of the church, which have been blessed with 
a refreshing from the presence of the Lord. We refer to the rich 
and precious blessings which have attended the numerous protracted 
meetings, which have been held throughout our borders." " From 
all portions of the church we hear the language of praise, for the 
great things God has done by means of protracted meetings." The 
Presbytery of Ontario, under date of October, 1832, say, "Many 
of our churches during the past year have held protracted meet- 
ings for religious worship, which have been uniformly blessed to 
the conversion of sinners and to the edification of God's people." 
The Presbytery of Buffalo repeatedly make mention of protracted 
meetings as being held in the churches under their care, and of 
their being instrumental of much good. Other Presbyteries give a 
similar testimony. At these protracted meetings a very large 
number of those who became members of the Presbyterian churches, 
for several years, received their first serious impressions and em- 
braced a hope of pardon through a crucified Saviour. These meet- 
ings brought out many to hear the word, who probably could not 
have been reached by any other instrumentality. They came, not 
because they expected or wished to hear the gospel preached, not 
because of any serious concern about the salvation of their souls, 
for with regard to this they were entirely thoughtless ; but because 
they expected to see and hear things which were of rare occur- 
rence, and curiosity might be gratified. Some, perhaps, attended 
that they might find subjects for ridicule, or arguments against the 
utility of revivals of religion : but to their consciences the word 
has been made quick and powerful, and conversion to God has 
been the final result. The great day of accounts will undoubtedly 
exhibit many on the right hand of the Judge, who were converted 
to God through the instrumentality of protracted meetings. 

The employment of evangelists, or ministers without pastoral 
charge, to labor in protracted meetings, and take the lead in the 
conduct of them, was commenced simultaneously with the introduc- 
tion of those meetings. These preachers were supposed to possess 
extraordinary talents to collect and interest a congregation, to 
awaken sinners, and to excite Christians to engagedness and acti- 
vity in the Lord's service. Some of them were believed to be 
men of extraordinary piety, living peculiarly near to God, and by 
their strength of faith in prayer prevailing with God. Many Chris- 
tians entertained the idea, that, if one of these evangelists could 
be obtained to conduct a protracted meeting, a blessing would 
certainly follow, and souls would be converted. They were fre- 



168 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



quently spoken of as " revival men " and " revival preachers" 
though these appellations were not «confined to the evangelists. 
Some of them were, no doubt, men of ardent piety, and were use- 
ful in winning souls to Christ. Of some, we are constrained to 
believe, that, if they were not impostors, they must have been self- 
deceived fanatics. Some of them were men of education, with 
talents of a high order, and of a somewhat peculiar character. 
Their preaching was characterized by a pointedness of address, 
generally of the severe kind, and their one object seemed to be the 
immediate conversion of the sinners. Of course, every subject was 
left out of view except what, in the estimation of the preachers, 
had an immediate bearing on this one object. At the commence- 
ment of the meeting, for a season, the preaching was addressed 
principally to the church. The object of it was to arouse them to 
a state of intense anxiety, to effort, and to prayer for the conversion 
of sinners, in the full expectation that their efforts and prayers 
would bring down the Divine blessing in the precise form in which 
it was asked, and without any delay. This idea of the prayer of 
faith, the writer believes, was generally adopted by the preachers 
denominated evangelists, although he is not prepared to say that it 
was universal. After a season of laboring with the church in this 
manner, and especially if the church seemed to be brought up to 
this state of feeling and effort, the attention of the preacher was 
directed wholly to his impenitent hearers, with a view to their im- 
mediate conversion. The manner of address would, of course, 
vary according to the peculiar temperament of the preacher. 
Generally, however, it partook largely of the severe character, and 
very commonly, if it failed to subdue, produced a deep disgust. 
Gentleness was not the characteristic trait of but few, if any, of 
this order of preachers. Undoubtedly, some of them supposed that 
the peculiar state of the times required severity in those who would 
be faithful as the ministers of Christ. Hence they might be led, 
under the idea of faithfulness, to be rigid, overbearing, censorious, 
and dictatorial in their addresses, both to saints and sinners. Some 
of them, even of the better sort, seemed to assume it as an undoubted 
fact, that they were in a special manner enlightened by the Holy 
Spirit, and to expect that every sentiment advanced by them 
should be received by their hearers without question and without 
proof. Hence they abounded more in assertions than in proofs, 
and made positive declarations rather than dispassionate argumenta- 
tion. As to the doctrines preached, there was a very considerable 
discrepancy between them. With respect to all of them, it may 
be said that their preaching was not of that description usually 
understood by doctrinal preaching. They preached with reference 
to one definite object, the immediate conversion of sinners. Those 
portions of divine truth which have not an immediate bearing on 
this one object, were not at all brought into view. Some of the evan- 

y 



CHARACTER OF MODERN REVIVALS. 



169 



gelists, it is believed, were orthodox in their views, and in their 
exhibitions of the truths of 4he gospel. Of others it may, per- 
haps, be said, that their preaching was faulty, for the want of 
clearer and fuller exhibitions of truth rather than on account of pal- 
pable error. But with regard to some of them, it was far other- 
wise. Their preaching was diametrically opposed to the gospel 
of Christ; some of the great and important truths of the bible were, 
by them, ridiculed and contemned. The author of this work once 
heard the famous Mr. Luther Myrick, in preaching, absolutely ridi- 
cule the doctrine of the divine decrees as maintained in the Shorter 
Catechism ; and the whole drift of his discourse went to show that 
sinners possessed an independent power of their own to change 
their own hearts, and therefore stood in no need of any special 
operation of the Holy Spirit to accomplish this work. In the 
preaching of a number, the doctrine of the Spirit's influence in re- 
newing the heart of the sinner, if not positively denied, was, at 
least, entirely kept out of view. In these cases where an evange- 
list was employed in conducting a protracted meeting, it was 
generally with the understanding that he was to have the sole 
direction of the meeting, and to perform all the preaching. 

The first of this order of laborers in Western New York in point 
of time, as the writer believes, was Rev. Charles G. Finney. He 
had been preaching with great applause and much apparent success 
in the central and northern parts of the State for some time, when 
he was invited in the summer of 1826, to assist in a protracted 
meeting in the village of Auburn, Rev. Dirck C. Lansing being at 
that time pastor of the Presbyterian church in that village. Mr. 
Finney came according to request, and labored about seven or eight 
weeks. The attendance on the meetings was very great, and as 
the result of it, about fifty members were added to the Presbyterian 
church. At a subsequent period, in 1831, Mr. Finney again labored 
in Western New York, and held long protracted meetings in Au- 
burn, Rochester, and some other places. Vast multitudes attended 
these meetings, and some hundreds professed to have been born 
again. No reasonable doubt can be entertained that such was really 
the case with many. Mr. Finney and his peculiar views on theo- 
logical subjects, are extensively known to the Christian public, and 
need no particular notice in this history. As an awakening preacher, 
he certainly possessed talents of a high order. In some of his 
theological views, he differed widely from the author of this work. 

Rev. Jedediah Burchard was employed to some extent as a 
preacher and director in protracted meetings, in 1833 and 1834. 
Such meetings were held by him in Auburn, in Homer, in Ithaca, 
in Buffalo, and in other places. Wherever his meetings were held, 
as far as the writer has been informed, there was a large attend- 
ance, high excitement, many professed conversions, and a speedy 
introduction of such as professed conversion into the church. At 



170 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Homer, on the twenty-sixth day of the meeting, seventy-two of the 
professed converts were received into the church. The writer has 
no personal acquaintance with Mr. Burchard, and does not know 
that he ever saw him, but if he can credit testimony which appears 
to him undoubted, there must have been very much in the course 
pursued by him, and in his instructions, which was exceedingly re- 
prehensible. It would seem to have been his grand object, by every 
variety of means, to bring the impenitent to say that they gave 
their hearts to God, and when this was accomplished, they were 
pronounced converts, and cautioned not to doubt the reality of their 
conversion. Time has tested the reality of many of these supposed 
conversions, and shown them to be spurious. The pastor of one 
of the churches in which Mr. Burchard held a protracted meeting 
in 1832 or 1833, says, " A protracted meeting was holden with this 
church, which was conducted by Rev. J. Burchard. At the clos- 
ing up of his effort, he brought into the church an accession of one 
hundred and sixteen members. In the judgment of the session, this 
was more an addition of numerical than of spiritual strength ; and 
' so much of evil was mingled with the good unquestionably done, 
that the church have since preferred a more quiet but less hazardous 
mode of conducting revivals." Another correspondent speaks of a 
revival as the result of a protracted meeting conducted by Mr, 
Burchard in 1833, and continued during a period of twenty-eight 
days, in the course of which period ninety-nine individuals were 
received into the church by profession of faith in Christ. He ob- 
serves, " Here permit me to say, that not more than one half of the 
ninety-nine admitted to the church, in this season of revival (so 
called), have given evidence of a change of heart, the ruinous con- 
sequences of which, to some extent, remain to this day." As far 
as the author's information extends, it is his belief that few of the 
pastors and churches in Western New York, where Mr. Burchard 
conducted protracted meetings, would desire a repetition of his 
labors. 

Within the bounds of the Presbytery of Buffalo, Rev? Samuel 
G. Orton labored as an evangelist, holding protracted meetings, 
and otherwise assisting feeble churches in that region. To this 
service he was invited by the Presbytery, by a resolution passed 
unanimously, January, 1834, in the following words, "Resolved, 
that this Presbytery entertain a high regard for the ministerial 
fidelity and increasing usefulness of Rev. Samuel G. Orton, and 
that we tender him a cordial invitation to continue his labors 
throughout the entire bounds of our Presbytery, if consistent with 
his views of duty." At a subsequent period the Presbytery made 
provision for his temporal support, and requested him to continue 
his labors. His labors as an evangelist were thought to be very 
useful, nor, within the knowledge of the writer, has there ever been 
anything objectional in his instructions or measures to promote the 



CHARACTER OF MODERN REVIVALS. 



171 



salvation of souls. God evidently owned his labors, and attended 
them with the influences of the Holy Spirit. 

Rev. James Boyle for a season exercised the office of an evan- 
gelist, and conducted protracted meetings principally within the 
bounds of the Presbyteries of Bath and Geneva. His doctrinal 
views and measures, in the estimation of the writer, were serious- 
ly objectionable, and time has shown that the number of estimated 
converts resulting from his labors very far exceeded the number 
of real ones. As far as is known to the writer, almost every church 
which was greatly enlarged in its number of members, through 
the instrumentality of his preaching, is now in a very decayed 
state. Mr. Boyle has since lost his ministerial character, has been 
deposed from the ministry, and excommunicated from the church. 

Mr. Augustus Littlejohn, in the time of the first introduction 
of protracted meetings, distinguished himself as a lay assistant in 
conducting these meetings, by his activity, boldness, and apparent 
zeal for the conversion of souls. Under the impression that the 
providence of God pointed him out as one who was to do much for 
the conversion of sinners, the Presbytery of Angelica, though he was 
entirely deficient both in classical and theological education, licensed 
him to preach the gospel, on the first day of September, 1830, and, 
in April, 1834, ordained him to the work of an evangelist. His 
first ministrations for a considerable period were mostly employed 
on the territory east of that which, in this work, is designated 
Western New York, and he became quite famous as a revival 
preacher, and conductor of protracted meetings. From the period 
of his ordination his operations were mostly confined to Western 
New York, and particularly within the bounds of the Presbytery 
of Angelica, where for a number of years he was in very high re- 
pute. His meetings were attended by great numbers, and many 
under his ministrations professed to have been converted, and with- 
out doubt many real conversions took place. Many pious people 
esteemed him very highly, as a bold, fearless reprover of sin, as a 
man of deep piety, and an instrument in the hands of God of con- 
verting souls. The writer once heard him preach, near the close of 
a long protracted meeting which he had conducted ; but was en- 
tirely disgusted with the exhibition. His manner and whole ap- 
pearance was that of a mad enthusiast. The sermon was charac- 
terized by coarseness, vulgarity, and abuse. It was addressed 
wholly to the impenitent, and calculated, not to convict and awaken 
feelings of concern, but to goad, exasperate, and repel. Mr. Little- 
john was grossly unsound in doctrine, boisterous in manner, and 
irregular in almost every point of view ; but the apparent zeal for 
the salvation of souls which he manifested, and his indefatigable 
activity in his ministry, led many good people to think very highly 
of him and his labors. But his operations were, in many respects, 
exceedingly injurious to the interests of religion. He introduced 



172 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



into the churches where he ministered, laxness in doctrine, fanati- 
cism, and many irregularities. On the eighteenth day of March, 
1841, he was, by the Presbytery of Angelica, deposed from the 
ministerial office, and excommunicated from the church, on account 
of grossly immoral conduct practised clandestinely, at various 
times through a long period. 

There were many others who, for a season, itinerated as evan- 
gelists and conductors of protracted meetings. Mr. Finney and 
some others of the earliest ones had acquired a great popularity 
with a large proportion of the religious community. Protracted meet- 
ings were in high repute, as means of salvation, and the high ex- 
citement produced by them was agreeable to the spiritual appetite 
of many. It was vastly easier to conduct a protracted meeting, 
than to sit down to the continued care of a church, through all the 
vicissitudes which might occur in a period of time. The mental 
labor of the evangelist, who remained not more than a "month in any 
one place, in preparing sermons, was very little. The idea of being 
the instrument in converting many souls in a very short time, was a 
very exciting one. These circumstances would naturally lead 
numbers to desire the station of an evangelist, and a considerable 
number engaged in this employment, or endeavored to force them- 
selves into it. Some of them were well educated, sound in doc- 
trine, and highly useful as preachers of the gospel. But many of % 
them were destitute of classical and theological furniture ; of feeble 
natural abilities : erroneous in sentiments ; boisterous, vulgar, and 
abusive in their manner of preaching ; irreverent and even dic- 
tatorial in prayer, and fanatical in their whole procedure. Their 
operations and influence were destructive in a high degree, and 
brought discredit on the revivals. It is not, however, to be under- 
stood, that this class of evangelists were generally countenanced 
and upheld by the ministers and churches of the Presbyterian deno- 
mination in Western New York. This was by no means the case. 
A considerable proportion of these evangelists were from other 
parts of the country, and not under the jurisdiction of the Presby- 
teries in the region. Many of them had no connexion with any 
Presbytery. Hence, the ecclesiastical judicatories could do nothing 
more than warn their churches not to employ them. This was 
done in repeated instances. The Presbytery of Angelica, at a 
meeting held April, 1835, animadverted upon the conduct of Rev. 
David Slie, a member of the Black River Association, who was 
laboring within their bounds. They say "Mr. Slie has particular 
points to carry, that are not at all essential to the cause of preach- 
ing the gospel, viz. — To organize churches ; to exhibit a popular, 
but defective, and yet favorite confession of faith ; to show that his 
own labors are in particular demand ; to show his congregational 
prejudices in opposition to Presbyterianism : to justify himself in 
all his proceedings at any expense." The Presbytery of Genesee 



CHARACTER OF MODERN REVIVALS. 173 



recorded their disapprobation of the paper denominated, " The 
American Revivalist and Rochester Observer." This was in effect 
a condemnation of the sentiments and extravagances of many of 
the evangelists. This record was made in February, 1833. The 
Presbytery of Ontario, in August, 1839, passed resolutions con- 
demnatory of the course pursued by Mr. Littlejohn. 

The Presbytery of Cayuga, at a meeting held in August, 1833, 
made the following record : " Whereas, Rev. Luther Myrick and 
others associated with him, have been holding protracted meetings 
within our bounds, and it is expected that he designs to continue ; 
the Presbytery unanimously resolved to invite and advise the 
churches in this body, not to invite nor employ the said Myrick in 
such meetings for the following reasons, viz. — 1. The Presbytery 
are informed that the said Myrick is now a subject of Presbyterian 
discipline, that charges have been regularly entered against him, 
and that the-Presbytery to which he belongs has cited him to appear 
for trial. 2. The Presbytery fully believe that the said Myrick 
teaches doctrines at war with the Bible, and with the standards of 
the Presbyterian church. 3. The Presbytery are fully convinced, 
that the effects of his labors among the churches have been to divide 
brethren, and to produce a spirit of bitterness among them, and 
thus to disgrace the cause of Christ. For these reasons we would 
affectionately entreat and exhort the churches within our bounds, 
as they value the peace, the purity, and the prosperity of Zion, that 
they would not invite the said Myrick to labor among them, nor 
in any way aid or countenance him as a preacher of the gospel, 
until his trial shall come to an issue." With reference to some 
preachers of the description which we are now contemplating, the 
Presbytery of Chenango, in their narrative for 1844, say, — "In 
some of our parishes there have been annoyances, severe irrup- 
tions from irresponsible religionists, ostensibly avowing the object 
of union, but whose movements have tended to disunion and 
disaster." 

The Synod of Geneva, in October, 1835, adopted the following 
preamble and resolutions : " Whereas, the Synod are informed on 
what they deem good authority, that the ecclesiastical body calling 
themselves The Central Evangelical Association of New York, 
does not sustain the reputation of an orthodox body, and is not in 
fellowship with any ecclesiastical body with which we hold cor- 
respondence, and that the course of proceeding adopted by most 
of their ministers, is calculated to divide, corrupt, and distract the 
churches ; — Therefore, Resolved, that the Synod deem it irregular 
for any minister or church in our connexion, to admit the ministers 
of said Association to their pulpits, or in any way to recognise 
them, or the churches organized by them, as in regular standing." 

These extracts clearly show what were, from the beginning, the 



174 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



views entertained, by the great body of the Presbyterian church in 
Western New York, respecting the heterodoxy and extravagances 
of a considerable number of the men styled evangelists or revival 
preachers, who, for a season, itinerated in that region. There were 
among them good men, useful men, men whom God made use of to 
enlarge his kingdom ; but so many evils were connected with this 
system of evangelizing, that it is, to say the least, of very doubtful 
expediency. The decided opinion of the Presbyterian church in 
Western New York, for a considerable period, has been against it. 
The Presbytery of Tioga, in their narrative for 1843, say, "The 
Lord has heard the prayers of his saints, and "has poured out his 
Spirit extensively upon some of our churches. There was a 
mourning of God's people over past unfaithfulness, a solicitude that 
the word of God might become quick and powerful, and a prevail- 
ing desire that tire pastors, rather than foreign laborers, should be 
the honored instruments in converting sinners, which were charac- 
teristic, and, which gave promise of future prosperity." The Synod 
of Geneva, in a pastoral letter addressed to the churches under 
their care, in 1841, say, " As we have reason to fear, that in many 
churches it has become a habit to look for refreshing showers of 
divine grace only in connexion with some special effort, and the 
employment of some extraordinary means, we would caution you 
to beware of undervaluing the ordinary ministrations of your own 
pastors and stated supplies, and of withholding from them that love, 
confidence, and cordial co-operation, which they have a right, w T hile 
faithful ministers, to expect, and which it is your duty as members, 
to yield. It is our decided conviction, that, if a full confidence 
were reposed in the ordinary ministrations of the gospel among 
you, and a hearty, prayerful co-operation afforded to those who 
watch for your souls, with a sincere and ardent desire to secure 
success to their ministry, the ways of Zion would cease to mourn 
because so few come to her solemn feasts, and times of refreshing 
from the presence of the Lord would be greatly multiplied and 
prolonged. The kingdom of God, which cometh not with observa- 
tion, would thus continue to increase in numbers, and in righteous- 
/ ness, peace," and joy in the Holy Ghost." 

In conclusion, on this particular subject, there can be no reason- 
able doubt, that there have been of late years, in the Presbyterian 
churches in Western New York, most glorious outpourings of the 
Holy Spirit, by which the kingdom of the Redeemer has been 
greatly enlarged. At the same time, it must be acknowledged that 
there, as well as in other parts of the moral vineyard, many circum- 
stances have occurred, which have given pain to the heart of the 
enlightened Christian, marred the good work, and hindered the sal- 
vation of precious souls. The revivals in many places have been 
of a less pure character than those of preceding years, and many 



CHARACTER OF MODERN REVIVALS. 



175 



professed converts have been introduced into the churches who 
give no evidence of piety, some of whom have long since been cut 
off by the process of discipline, and others hang upon the church a 
dead weight, crippling its energies, marring its beauty, and afford- 
ing an occasion for the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, 



176 



CHAPTER XV. 

History of Missionary operations in Western New York. The General Association of 
Connecticut sends Missionaries to Western New York. Specimen of their labors. 
Becomes the Missionary Society of Connecticut : its operations in Western New 
York. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church: early condition of the 
Presbyterian Church. Incipient steps with reference to Missions. Appointment of 
Missionaries to Western New York. Committee of Missions: Board of Missions. 
Change in the mode of employing Missionaries. Massachusetts Missionary Society, 
Berkshire and Columbia Missionary Society; Hampshire Missionary Society. So- 
ciety for propagating the Gospel among the Indians and others of North America, 
New Hampshire Missionary Society. Morris County Associated Presbytery. Re- 
formed Dutch Church. 

In narrating the rise and progress of the churches in Western 
New York, in the preceding pages, we have occasionally noticed 
the labors of Missionaries employed by different Missionary Socie- 
ties, and other ecclesiastical organizations. As this species of minis- 
terial labor has been greatly instrumental in establishing and main- 
taining the churches in Western New York, down to the present 
time, a more particular history of missionary operations may be de- 
manded. 

Whether the missionaries under the appointment of the general 
Association of Connecticut, or those who labored in fthe service of 
the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, were the first to 
visit this region, is not certainly known to the writer. It is his be- 
lief that the missionaries from Connecticut hold priority. The Gene- 
ral Association of Connecticut is an ecclesiastical body, meeting 
annually, and is composed of clerical delegates from each of the 
Congregational Associations of ministers within the State. The 
first organization of the General Association, it is supposed, took 
place at the time of the general election at. Hartford, in the year 
1709. It constitutes the bond of union between the ministers and 
churches of the orthodox congregational denomination throughout 
the State. 

Soon after the termination of the war of the Revolution, the in- 
habitants of Connecticut began, in great numbers, to emigrate to 
newer regions, where land was cheaper and more fertile. In a 
special manner the stream of emigration was directed to Western 
New York, as all that part of the State was then denominated, which 
lay west of the counties that now adjoin the Hudson river. Those 
who emigrated, left relations and friends behind them who felt a 
deep solicitude for their welfare, both temporal and eternal. They 
were in the wilderness ; few generally in any one place. They 



MISSIONARY OPERATIONS. 



177 



were experiencing all the hardships and privations of a new settle- 
ment, and were without the stated preaching of the gospel, and the 
most important means of spiritual improvement and salvation. Un- 
der these circumstances, it would be natural for their friends, who 
continued in the full possession and enjoyment of all religious privi- 
leges, to use their utmost endeavors to aid their brethren in the 
wilderness, and send to them preachers of the gospel, that they 
might, at least occasionally, hear a sermon, and enjoy sacramental 
privileges. At an early period, the General Association took this 
subject into their serious consideration, and devised means for send- 
ing missionaries to itinerate in the new settlements. In the year 
1795, in an address to the inhabitants of the new settlements, they 
declare that it was their design to send to them " settled ministers, 
well reputed in the churches, to preach among them the unsearcha- 
ble riches of Christ, and, as occasion might offer, to gather and or- 
ganize churches, to administer sealing ordinances, to instruct their 
young people, catechize their children, and perform all those minis- 
terial duties which are usually practised in the churches and con- 
gregations of Connecticut." But the missionary operations of this 
ecclesiastical body, must have commenced several years prior to 
the date of this address. As early as 1788, or '89, Rev. Samuel 
Eells, of North Branford, was sent out as a missionary, by the Gene- 
ral Association, and came to the west as far as Fort Stanwix, now 
the village of Rome. Among the early missionaries appointed by 
the General Association of Connecticut, are found the names of Rev. 
Moses C. Welch, for 1794 ; Rev. Messrs. Joshua Knapp, David 
Huntington, Ammi R. Robbins, Lemuel Tyler, and Levi Hart, for 
1795 ; for 1796, Rev. Messrs. Robbins, Nott, Lyman, Ely, Kynne, 
and Benedict. They were severally employed for periods ranging 
from four weeks to four months. Respecting these missionaries, 
their fields of labor are not definitely designated. It is believed 
that some of them were sent to the State of Vermont, and respect- 
ing those who were engaged in the new settlements in the State of 
New York, it is not probable that any considerable portion of the 
time was spent on the territory which we denominate Western New 
York. As a specimen of the labor performed by itinerating mis- 
sionaries in that early period of missionary operations in new settle- 
ments, it may be noted that Mr. Robbins, on his mission of forty 
days' continuance, preached forty-two sermons, in addition to his 
other ministerial labors performed. What missionaries were em- 
ployed in 1797 and the former part of 1798, is not known to the 
writer. For the support of missionary operations by the general 
Association, collections were made in all the congregational 
churches, annually, on the first Sabbath in May. 

Till the year 1798 the missionary appointments were all made 
by the General Association, at their annual meeting, and all the 
business relating to missions was then transacted. But as the 

12 



178 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Association was an ephemeral body, being dissolved at the close of 
the session, and not succeeded by another until the expiration of a 
year, and as the field of missionary labor was becoming greatly 
enlarged, it seemed necessary that there should exist a permanent 
body, by whom the missionary concerns might be conducted, and 
frequent meetings be attended. Accordingly the General Associ- 
ation, at their meeting in June, 1798, adopted a Constitution for a 
Missionary Society. By the provisions of this Constitution, the 
General Association became the Society. This Society was to elect, 
annually, a Board of Trustees, to consist of six clergymen and six 
lay-brethren of the churches, who were empowered to conduct the 
business of the Society, and report their doings to the Society at 
the close of the year. The object of the Society is declared to be, 
" To Christianize the heathen in North America, and ,to support 
and promote Christian knowledge in the new settlements within 
the United States." From this period the operations of the Society 
were more extended. The funds were greatly enlarged, and the 
field of operation increased in extent. Western New York was 
rapidly being filled with inhabitants — emigrants from the State of 
Connecticut ; and the sympathies of the Society were drawn out 
towards them. This field of labor particularly drew the attention 
of the Connecticut Missionary Society, and a large proportion of 
their funds were expended upon it, for a number of years. From 
the time of the organization of the Society in 1798, to the close of 
the year 1814. it appears that about tw T enty years of missionary 
labor were performed, on this field, by the missionaries of the 
Society. The missionaries who were in the employ of the Society, 
on this field, during this interval, for longer and shorter periods, 
were the following ministers and licentiates : — Walter King, Seth 
Williston, Jedidiah Bushnell, Salmon King, Amasa Jerome, Josiah 
B. Andrews, Hezekiah May, David Higgins, Calvin Ingalls, Israel 
Brainard, John Spencer, David Harrowar, Silas Hubbard, Ebenezer 
Kingsbury, Hubbell Loomis, William Lockwood, Orange Lyman, 
Oliver Ayer, Joel T. Benedict, William F. Miller, John F. Bliss, 
John Bascom, George Colton, Oliver Hill, Samuel Sergeant, and 
Chester Colton. There may have been, during this period, two or 
three missionaries, whose names are not included in this list. The 
Narratives of the missions for 1803 and 1811 are not in the writer's 
possession. Of the missionaries named, several were pastors of 
churches in the State of Connecticut, who, with the consent of their 
congregations, came out as missionaries for a period of three or 
four months, and then returned to their stated charges. Some of 
them were ministers resident in the country, with stated charges, 
whose congregations were unable to render them a full support, 
and were, therefore, willing that they should employ themselves as 
itinerating missionaries a part of their time. Some of them were 
engaged in missionary employment continually for a considerable 



MISSIONARY OPERATIONS. 



179 



period. Several of them came into the country as missionaries, 
and thereby found a permanent settlement in the country as pastors 
of churches. The missionary who was for the longest period of 
time employed on this field, by the Society, was Rev. John Spencer. 
At the close of the year 1814, he had been in the employ of the 
Society about five years. Of his character as a man, a Christian, 
a minister, and a missionary ; of his labors and their results ; and 
of his death, notice has been already taken. Rev. Seth Williston, 
D.D., who is still living, stands next on the list for length of con- 
tinuance in missionary labor. He seems to have been in the employ 
of the Society, in all, about four years. Rev. Jedidiah Bushnell 
was engaged in missionary service, on this field, nearly two years. 
Of the labors and blessed results of the labors of these two brethren, 
we have spoken in a preceding- chapter. The other missionaries 
were engaged for shorter periods : none of them for more than one 
year. It, perhaps, ought to be mentioned, that a number of these 
missionaries spent some part of the time, in which they were 
engaged, exterior to what we have designated Western New York, 
but in the immediate vicinity. We have had no data to determine 
with precision, what proportion of the time of the missionary was 
spent within the boundaries we have prescribed to Western New 
York, and what might have been employed in its immediate 
vicinity. 

How long after me year 1814 the missionaries of the Connecti- 
cut Missionary Society labored in Western New York, is not 
known to the writer. He has not in his possession the data neces- 
sary to determine. It is, however, many years since the Society 
withdrew its missionaries from this field to employ them in regions 
still more destitute. But Western New York is greatly indebted 
for its religious institutions and prosperity, its civil and literary 
blessings, to the labors of missionaries from this Societ)^. They 
were, at an early period, on the field, and had a vast influence in 
forming [the character of the new settlements, and preserving the 
immigrants from moral degeneracy. 

The next missionary institution which it behoves us to notice, as 
having employed missionaries to a large extent, and at a very early 
period in Western New York is, the General Assembly of the 
Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. Perhaps, 
one or two of its missionaries reached its borders prior to any mis- 
sionary from Connecticut. The General Assembly was organized, 
and held its first meeting May 21st, 1789. At this meeting the 
subject of missions to the frontier settlements was taken under con- 
sideration. No missionaries were appointed for that year, as it 
does not appear that the Assembly had any funds to be appropri- 
ated to that object. But each Synod under the care of the Assem- 
bly was requested to recommend to the next succeeding Assembly 
two members, well qualified to be employed in missions among the 



180 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



frontier inhabitants. The Synods then under the care of the As- 
sembly were four, viz. the Synod of New York and New Jersey, 
the Synod of Philadelphia, the Synod of Virginia, and the Synod 
of the Carolinas. The several Presbyteries were directed to have 
collections made in the churches to defray the expense of the mis- 
sions which might be instituted. At this period, the number of 
ministers belonging to the Presbyterian church, was one hundred 
and seventy-seven ; the number of licentiates, eleven ; the number 
of churches, exclusive of the Presbytery of Transylvania, four 
hundred and nineteen, of which two hundred and fifteen were sup- 
plied with pastors, and two hundred and four were vacant. Of the 
pastors, thirty of them supplied two congregations each ; eleven, 
three congregations each ; and one ministered to four congrega- 
tions. It appears from this statement that nearly one half of the 
churches of the Presbyterian denomination in the United States, 
were without any stated administration of the word and ordinances 
of the gospel, and that a large number of the remainder were but 
partially supplied. 

At the meeting of the Assembly, May, 1790, Rev. Nathan Ker, 
of the Presbytery of New York, and Rev. Joshua Hart, of the Pres- 
bytery of Suffolk, were appointed missionaries on the frontier set- 
tlements of New York and Pennsylvania, for at least three months 
each, from an early day in June. These brethren, on their mission, 
visited several places within the region denominated, in this history, 
Western New York. Newtown (now Elmira), Unadilla, Chenan- 
go (now Binghamton), and Owego, are named as places visited by 
them. They were, undoubtedly the first missionaries of the Pres- 
byterian church who penetrated into Western New York. At this 
period almost the whole of the region was a pathless wilderness. 
In 1191, Rev. James Boyd performed a mission of three months, on 
the frontier settlements of New York and Pennsylvania, and the 
next year, Rev. James McDonald and Mr. Isaac Grier, licentiate, 
spent four months each, in missionary service on the same field, 
but it is not known to the writer whether either of these missiona- 
ries entered Western New York. In 1793, Rev. Benjamin Judd 
and Rev. Ira Condict were appointed, each for four months, and 
Mr. William Spear, licentiate, for two months, to itinerate among 
the frontier settlements, from the east branch of the Susquehannah 
river, inclusive. These missions were performed. Some .portion 
of the time must have been employed in Western New York. Mr. 
Condict came into the Genesee country, and organized the church 
of Palmyra. 

On the minutes of the Assembly for 1795, it is noted that Messrs. 
Thatcher, Porter, Semple, and McClain, were appointed to perform 
missions, and it appears that they fulfilled their appointments. How 
long they were in service is not known. Mr. Thatcher itinerated 
extensively in Western New York, and organized several churches. 



MISSIONARY OPERATIONS. 



181 



Respecting the others, it is not known whether they entered this 
territory. The next year Mr. Thatcher was appointed, for the 
term of one year, to pursue the route prescribed to him the preced- 
ing year. He fulfilled his appointment, and went as far west as 
the Genesee river ; but how large a part of the year was appropri- 
ated to Western New York is not known. For the next year it 
does not appear that any missionary appointment for this field was 
made by the Assembly. 

In 179S, Rev. Messrs. John Close, Asa Hillyer, and Asa Dun- 
ham, and Messrs. John Slemons and John Patterson, licentiates, 
were severally appointed missionaries, to perform, in the aggre- 
gate, seventeen months of missionary labor, a considerable share of 
which was to be expended on Western New York. At the next 
meeting of the Assembly the committee reported, " That the Mis- 
sionaries had proceeded on the respective tours prescribed, and had 
been faithful in preaching the gospel, and in catechizing, and ad- 
ministering the sacraments, as it appeared proper and expedient ; 
that thirteen adults and one hundred and fifty-four children were 
baptized by them ; that the people generally appeared to give at- 
tention to the word preached, with reverence and solemnity, and 
several examples of its powerful effect in impressing the heart, and 
reforming the life, had been observed in the course of the respective 
missions." 

In 1799, Rev. Messrs. David Barclay, Robert Logan, John Linds- 
ley, James Force, and Methuselah Baldwin, were commissioned to 
spend, in the aggregate, seventeen months or more, in missionary 
service, almost entirely in Western New York. It is supposed 
that they all performed their terms of service. The next year, Mr. 
Logan was reappointed to the same field, with directions to pro- 
ceed as far as the Cayuga lake, " the Assembly having received 
from several congregations, in that tract, communications by let- 
ters, giving the most agreeable accounts of Mr. Logan's usefulness, 
describing the most blessed effects of a preached gospel in that re- 
gion, and earnestly soliciting a continuance of the attention of the 
Assembly, offering to pay a considerable share of the expense at- 
tending such a mission." Mr. Logan's appointment was for three 
months or more. The same year, Rev. Jonathan Freeman, Rev. 
Robert H. Chapman, Rev. John Lindsley, and Rev. Matthew L. 
R. Perrine, were appointed missionaries for fourteen months in all, 
to spend their time principally within the limits of Western New 
York, This year, Rev. Jedidiah Chapman was appointed a stand- 
ing missionary for four years, as has already been narrated. 

At the meeting of the Assembly in 1802, the business of missions 
having greatly increased, and become complicated, the Assembly 
" Resolved, that a committee be chosen annually by the General 
Assembly, to be denominated ' The Standing Committee of Mis- 
sions ;' that this committee shall consist of seven members, of whom 



182 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



four shall be clergymen and three laymen." It was made the duty 
of this committee, to collect and report information on the subject 
of missions ; to nominate missionaries to the Assembly, recommend- 
ing their fields and periods of labor ; and to receive the reports of 
the missionaries, and make a statement thereon to the Assembly. 
With the help of this committee, the missionary business was 
managed by the Assembly until the year 1816, when the style of 
the committee was changed for that of " The Board of Missions, 
acting under the authority of the General Assembly of the Presby- 
terian Church in the United States." The Board was made to con- 
sist of sixteen members, and has since been enlarged, so as to con- 
sist of forty ministers and twenty-four laymen, one quarter of which 
number are annually elected. This Board makes the missionary 
appointments, transacts all the missionary business, and reports its 
proceedings annually to the Assembly. 

From 1800 to 1828, missionaries continued to be employed by 
the Assembly, or its Board of Missions, to labor in Western New 
York, the 'aggregate period of whose labors amounts to about ten 
years of continued service. The names which are to be found on 
the list of missionaries, during this period, are, Jedidiah Chapman, 
John Lindsley, William Clark, John Boyd, Oliver Ayer, Francis 
Pomeroy, Joshua Johnson, Andrew Rawson, John Davenport, 
Hugh Wallace, Royal Phelps, George Scott, Matthew Harrison, 
Henry Ford, Phinehas Camp, Lyman Barrett, Richard F. Nicole, 
Miles P. Squier, Silas Pratt, Samuel McPherrin, Richard Brown, 
Moses Hunter, John Stockton, and Asa Donaldson. They were 
employed for periods varying from one month to six months. 
Most of them were repeatedly commissioned for a term of service. 
Mr. Chapman received an appointment annually, down to the year 
1813. He performed much more missionary service for the As- 
sembly than any other individual, and his missionary reports were 
esteemed exceedingly valuable. In his report of his services for 
the year next preceding the meeting of the Assembly in 1806, he 
says, " The general state of the country in the North-western part 
of New York is progressing to religious order ; the number of 
congregations is rapidly increasing, and churches are organized. 
There are others in embryo ; new towns are settling, which need 
particular attention, and are continually calling for ministerial 
labor. There is a large field open for the employment of mission- 
aries, and perhaps as great, if not greater, call for missionary ser- 
vices than at any former period." 

Up to the year 1829, the missionaries appointed by the General 
Assembly, or its Board of Missions, were, almost all of them, 
itinerants, travelling over an extensive field, staying but a few 
days in any one place, and receiving their entire compensation 
from the funds of the Assembly. They were expected to be con- 
stantly engaged in preaching the gospel, or in performing the active 



MISSIONARY OPERATIONS. 



183 



duties of an itinerating missionary. Their labor was many times 
severe, and hardships pressing ; bat, if at any time they were ready 
to say, " Lord, who hath believed oar report, and to whom hath 
the arm of the Lord been revealed ?" at other times they were 
made to rejoice in the exhibition of the right-hand of the Most 
High, and permitted to see that they had not labored in vain, nor 
spent their strength for naught. The churches were strengthened 
by their labors, and sinners were converted from the error of their 
ways. From the commencement of 1830, a change was made in 
the mode of conducting missions by the Board. The missionary 
was appointed, usually for one year, to minister, as a pastor or 
stated supply, to a particular congregation, or, in instances, to 
two or even three congregations, spending in this way his whole- 
time, and receiving the greater part of his compensation from the 
people to whom he ministered. Under this system of operation, 
his labors differed in no respect from those of the ordinary pastor 
or stated supply. - During the year 1830, fourteen missionaries on 
this field were appointed, in aid of twenty-two feeble congregations, 
the appointments being, with one exception, for one year. In 1832, 
twenty-one missionaries were appointed to minister to twenty- 
eight congregations, besides two whose fields of labor were more 
extended. From the commencement of 1832 to the end of May 
of the same year, ten commissions, in aid of eleven congregations, 
had been issued, besides one of a more general character. The 
appointments made -by the Board, from the end of May, 1832, to 
the commencement of J une, 1833, are not before the author. From 
this period to the close of the year, the appointments of mission- 
aries to this field were thirteen, in aid of twenty congregations. 
The next year eight commissions were issued, in aid of nine con- 
gregations, besides one which embraced a larger field. 

The author has not had access to the reports of the Board of 
Missions, subsequent to that of 1834. From that report it appears 
that the number of appointments of missionaries for Western New 
York was greatly diminishing. At this period the American Home 
Missionary Society was in active operation, and received almost 
all the collections for home missions made in Western New York. 
Agencies of that Society, composed of clergymen and laymen of 
known reputation, and high standing in the community, were estab- 
lished in Central and Western New York, and a travelling asrent 
for each of these institutions was in constant employment. Under 
these circumstances, it was natural that the feeble churches should 
direct their attention to this quarter for the necessary aid to enable 
them to support the ministry of the gospel. Accordingly, their 
applications were generally made to the agencies of the American 
Home Missionary Society. Since the division of the Presbyterian 
Church in 1838, the churches generally have been connected with 
that branch sometimes denominated " The New School." This 



184 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



branch of the Presbyterian Church chooses to have the missionary 
business in the management of voluntary associations, and its As- 
sembly has no concern with the employment of missionaries. The 
Board of Missions of the other branch of the Presbyterian Church 
continues its missionary operations in Western New York to some 
extent. It had under its care, in this territory, in 1846, twenty-two 
churches, some of which are supposed to have assistance from the 
Assembly's Board of Missions in supporting the institutions of the 
gospel. 

Massachusetts Missionary Society. 

This Society was organized at Boston, May 28, 1779, by a con- 
vention of ministers and laymen, convened for the purpose of com- 
bining their efforts for the spread of the knowledge of the glorious 
gospel of Christ among the poor heathen, and in those remote parts 
of our country in which the inhabitants do not enjoy the benefits of 
a Christian ministry and Christian ordinances. At the organization 
of the Society, the venerable Nathanael Emmons, D.D., was elected 
President, which office he continued to sustain till 1812. The mis- 
sionary operations of the Society commenced in 1800. Inthatyear 
Rev. David Avery and Rev. Jacob Cram were commissioned to 
labor among the sparse new settlements, and the aboriginal natives 
inhabiting the country between Whitestown and the Genesee river. 
It is believed that most of the time of these brethren was occupied 
in labors for the benefit of the white inhabitants, although it is 
known that Mr. Cram made some exertions in behalf of the Indians. 
How much of their time was spent in Western New York is not 
ascertained. The next year, Mr. Avery was in the service of the 
Society nearly eight months, and Mr. Cram most of the year. Their 
labors were expended principally on this field. In 1802, these 
brethren were again in 'missionary employ, by the Society, for a 
considerable part of the year, but it is believed that Mr. Avery's 
field of labor did not embrace any part of Western New York. 
How much time Mr. Cram spent on this part of the field is not 
known. 

In 1803 and 1804, no appointments for this field were made, or, 
if made, were not fulfilled. In 1805 and the early part of 1806, 
Mr. Cram was again in the employ of the Society for a period of 
six months, but his field was extensive, and his labors in great part 
directed to the benefit of the Indians. In 1807, Rev. Amos 
Pettengill and Rev. William Riddell were employed in missionary 
labors, each, six months ; but mostly, if not wholly, on an adjoining 
field. During the latter part of 1807, and the year 1808, Mr. 
Joseph Merrill, then a licensed preacher of the gospel, spent forty- 
five weeks in missionary service, mostly, if not wholly, on this 
field. In 1808 and 1809, other missionaries were employed to 



MISSIONARY OPERATIONS. 



185 



labor in New York, but whether any of them, except Mr. Samuel 
Parker, a licensed preacher, were occupied on this field, is not 
known to the writer. Mr. Parker spent some time, during three 
years, in missionary labor in Western New York. He was again 
commissioned for six months ; and Mr. Robert Hubbard, also a 
licensed preacher, for three months, which commissions they ful- 
filled in 1810. In 1811, Mr. Parker, then an ordained minister of 
the gospel, was appointed to labor six months, as a missionary, on 
the head waters of the Susquehannah and Genesee. From this 
period the attention of the Society was directed to other fields, and 
no more missionaries were sent to Western New York. Messrs. 
Merrill, Parker, and Hubbard, remained in the region, and were 
settled as pastors of the churches. 

The reports of these missionaries are evidential of the importance 
and value of missionary labors. Mr. Avery, in his report, says : 
" In traversing this great region, I have had the satisfaction to find 
the people, in general, well disposed towards missionaries. They 
came out with cheerfulness ; they heard me with patience and with 
avidity, and, in some places, with anxiety and tears. It has been 
affecting to see women hastening to meeting, in a dark evening, 
through deep mud, by the light only of a brand of fire. Infidelity, 
which early claimed this region, and erected its standard here, has 
been made to feel very powerful opposition from heaven. When 
the enemy came in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord has lifted up 
a standard against him. It has lost some champions : its crest is 
lowered." Mr. Merrill remarks : In the different places in which 
I was called to labor, I uniformly found a kind reception : people 
were attentive and solemn ; Christians were mourning and hunger- 
ing for the word, and often with tears of gratitude they would ac- 
knowledge the benevolence of those who were mindful of their 
spiritual wants." Mr. Parker says, " I have been kindly received 
wherever I have been, and, generally, have had fall and attentive 
assemblies. Many have expressed gratitude for the benevolent at- 
tention of the Society in sending the gospel among them, and ex- 
pressed a desire for its continuance." In his report for 1811, Mr. 
Parker notices that at Warsaw, during the winter, thirty or forty 
persons had obtained the hope of salvation through the Redeemer. 

Berkshire and Columbia Missionary Society. 

This Society was organized at Spencertown in the county of 
Columbia, February 21st, 1798, by a convention of ministers and 
laymen convened for the purpose, and was denominated, " The 
Congregational Missionary Society originated in the counties of 
Berkshire and Columbia." The design of the Society was declared 
to be, " to propagate the gospel in the new settlements and among 



186 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



heathen nations." Rev. Ephraim Judson of Sheffield, Mass., was 
the first President. The funds of the Society soon enabled them 
to commence missionary operations on a small scale, and the atten- 
tion of the Society was in a particular manner directed to Western 
New York and its vicinity. 

In the summer of 1798, Rev. Beriah Hotchkin entered on a mis- 
sion of eight weeks' continuance, commencing his missionary labor 
in the county of Delaware, and proceeding onward to the Genesee 
river, at that time the utmost limit of white population. Mr. 
Hotchkin was one of the trustees of the Society, and in connexion 
with the performance of missionary labor for the spiritual benefit 
of the inhabitants, it was an object with him to explore the whole 
field, as far as was practicable, to enable the trustees, in their sub- 
sequent appointments of missionaries, to give them proper direc- 
tions respecting the fields of labor to be occupied by them. Simul- 
taneously with the mission of Mr. Hotchkin, Rev. Joseph Badger 
performed a mission of ninety days' continuance in the region bor- 
dering on the Susquehannah river, partly in New York, and partly 
in Pennsylvania. 

The attention of this Society to Western New York, as a field 
for missions, was continued for some years. The latest notices 
which have come under the eye of the writer relate to the year 
1813, and up to that period, the information is imperfect. It ap- 
pears, however, that missionary service, by this Society, to the 
amount of one missionary for about half of the time, was expended 
on this field. As missionaries employed by the Society. from time 
to time, on this field, are found the names of Rev. Messrs. Joseph 
Avery, Jacob Catlin, Samuel Fuller, David Perry, Aaron Bascom, 
Samuel Leonard, David Porter, David Harrowar, Jeremiah Os- 
borne, Hezekiah N. Woodruff, Reuben Parmele, William J. Wil- 
cox, Allen Hollister, with licentiates, Abiel Jones, Jonathan Shel- 
don, and Thomas Hardy. No doubt there were others, but . from 
the imperfection of the writer's information, they cannot here be 
noticed. 

Hampshire Missionary Society. 

This Society was organized at Northampton, Mass., in the month 
of January, 1802, by a convention of clergymen and laymen, con- 
vened for the purpose. " The object and business of the Society," 
as expressed in the constitution, was " to promote the preaching 
and propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ among the inhabitants 
of the new settlements of the United States, and the aboriginal 
natives of this continent." His Excellency, Caleb Strong, governor 
of the State of Massachusetts, and a resident of Northampton, was 
elected President of the Society, and continued to sustain that office 



MISSIONARY OPERATIONS. 



187 



for a number of successive years. The attention of the Society 
was directed to the destitute settlements in Western New York, 
and missionaries were sent to this region, by the Society, for more 
than twenty years. The information which the writer possesses 
is imperfect. It would seem, however, that the Society expended 
missionary labor on this field, to average from six months' to a 
year's service of one missionary annually. Among the mission- 
aries, are found the names of Rev. Messrs. Samuel Taggart, 
Timothy M. Cooley, D.D., Peter Fish, Joel Hays, Theodore Hins- 
dale, Payson Williston, Thomas H. Wood, Royal Phelps, John 
Bascom, Samuel Parker, and Oliver Hitchcock. Mr. Parker, who 
had a pastoral charge in Danby, was in the employ of the Society 
one quarter of the time for a number of years, laboring in the 
vacancies around the place of his residence. 

As to the results of the labors of the missionaries, Mr. Bascom, 
in his report of missionary labor performed by him in 1815 or '16, 
mentions that, in the town of Spencer, the word appeared to be 
effectual on about thirty individuals. Mr. Parker, in 1819, states, 
that a church had been formed in Cayuta, consisting of between 
thirty and forty members ; also, a revival was in progress in Up- 
dike Settlement, and about thirty individuals had entertained a hope. 
In the report of the trustees of the Society, August, 1808, they say, 
" The missionaries of the Society, as appears by their journals and 
letters, and by letters from those among whom they have labored, 
have fulfilled their missions with an exemplary fidelity, activity, 
and zeal, and with a patient self-denial. They travelled over ex- 
tensive regions of the new settlements, seeking for places and 
opportunities, where they might do good to the souls of men, and 
honor the grace of the Divine Redeemer. They were constant in 
preaching, in the administration of the holy sacraments, in settling 
difficulties in churches already established, in forming new church- 
es, in holding religious and church conferences, in visiting and in- 
structing schools, in comforting the sick and afflicted, in assisting 
mourners by their prayers and counsels, submissively to bury their 
dead, in going from house to house to teach the people the good 
knowledge of God. In addition to these services, and the diligent 
distribution of books, they preached nearly as many discourses as 
they spent days on missionary ground. Nor may the kind and 
grateful reception they met with from the people, be passed over 
in silence. Cordial was the welcome given to them by the needy 
and scattered inhabitants of those new and destitute settlements. 
Lively joy was impressed upon the countenances of Christ's chil- 
dren in the wilderness, and a general solemn attention to their labors 
was yielded by the people whom they visited. There was the' 
evidence of serious and useful effects upon the hearts and lives of 
not a few who were favored with the instructions and counsels 
of the missionaries of the Society." 



188 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Society for propagating the Gospel among the Indians and others 
in North America. 

A number of gentlemen in Boston and its vicinity, desirous of 
promoting the salvation of their fellow-men, associated themselves 
for this object, and in accordance with the provisions of an Act of 
the Legislature of the State of Massachusetts, obtained for the pur- 
pose, organized themselves in a Society with the above appellation, 
in the month of December, 1787. Their missionary efforts were 
principally directed to the christianization and civilization of the 
Indians, for a considerable period, and they also distributed Bibles 
and religious books in considerable numbers. As their funds were 
enlarged, they employed missionaries to preach to the inhabitants 
of the new settlements, and destitute places. This Society, at an 
early period, employed missionaries to labor in Western New York, 
but to what extent is not known to the writer. He distinctly re- 
collects Rev. Daniel Oliver, as performing missionary labor on this 
field, in the service of that Society, about the year 1810. 

New Hampshire Missionary Society. 

This Society was organized at Hopkinton, in the State of New 
Hampshire, Sept. 2d, 1801. In the year 1803, the Society em- 
ployed missionaries, to the amount of forty weeks, of which twelve 
weeks' service was allotted to Western New York. In 1804 they 
employed missionaries to the amount of fifty-two weeks, of which 
twenty-two weeks' service is reported as having been performed 
on the same field. The -author recollects Rev. Mr. Webber and 
Rev. Daniel Waldo as missionaries from this Society. Whether 
any others were employed on this field is not known. 

In the year 1780, four ministers of the Presbytery of New York, 
Rev. Jacob Green, the father of Rev. Ashbel Green, D.D., of Phila- 
delphia, Rev. Joseph Grover, Rev. Amzi Lewis, and. Rev. Ebenezer 
Bradford, seceded from the Presbytery of New York, and from the 
Synod of New York and Philadelphia, and organized themselves 
into an ecclesiastical body by the name of " The Presbytery of 
Morris County." This body adopted the Congregational form of 
church government, and, when organized for business, was com- 
posed of ministers and delegates from the churches. After a short 
time the designation was changed to that of " The Morris County 
Associated Presbytery." Subsequently, on account of the increase 
of the body in the number of its ministers and churches, a division 
_took place, and the Westchester Associated Presbytery was or- 
ganized. These Presbyteries for a time embraced a large number 
of ministers and churches in the lower counties of New York, and 
adjacent parts of New Jersey. A society, composed principally of 
the ministers of these Presbyteries, and members of their churches, 



MISSIONARY OPERATIONS. 



189 



was formed for the promotion of religion and learning. The exact 
designation of the Society is not known to the writer. This Society 
acted as a Missionary Society, and some of its missionaries, at an 
early period, visited Western New York. Rev. Joseph Grover, 
who was settled in the ministry in the church of North Bristol, in 
1800, came into the country as a missionary from this Society. Rev. 
Simeon R. Jones, who preached in the congregation of Elmira 
several years, was also a missionary of this Society. Some other 
missionaries to Western New York, it is believed, were sent by 
this Society ; but, at this late period, no definite information on 
the subject can be communicated. 

Reformed Dutch Church. 

Whether any missionaries of this denomination visited Western 
New York previous to the year 1806, is not known to the writer. 
In that year a special committee, consisting of four ministers and 
four elders, was appointed by the General Synod, with plenary 
powers to conduct the concerns of missions to the new settlements. 
This committee was designated " The Standing Committee of Mis- 
sions for the Reformed Dutch Church in America." Under their 
auspices, missionaries were sent to visit the settlements in Western 
New York, and in Upper Canada. The first missionaries men- 
tioned in the record of their proceedings, as employed by them, 
are Rev. Messrs. Conrad Ten Eyck, Christian Bork, and Peter D. 
Froeligh. These brethren were a'p pointed to visit the northwest- 
ern frontiers of the State of New York,andthe Province of Upper 
Canada. They entered upon their mission in the month of August, 
1806, and spent eleven weeks in missionary service on the ground 
assigned them. Probably the greater part of the time was spent 
in Canada. They speak of the people among whom they labored, 
as hearing the gospel with eager attention and warm expressions 
of gratitude. 

In 1809, two other missionaries were appointed to visit the same 
field. Their names are not known to the writer. They fulfilled 
their appointment, and continued in service three months. What 
portion of their time was spent in Western New York, does not 
appear. In 1810, another missionary, Rev. John Beattie, was em- 
ployed on the same ground, eighteen weeks. 

Respecting subsequent missionary operations of the Reformed 
Dutch Church, the writer has not the means of information. 



190 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Genesee Missionary Society, its organization, operations ; Funds derived from Female 
Associations, Indian School, Dissolution of the Society. Female Missionary Society 
of the Western District; Young People's Missionary Society of Western New York; 
the Western Domestic Missionary Society, Auxiliary to the American Home Mis- 
sionary Society. Young Men's Missionary Society of New York. The New York 
Evangelical Missionary Society. United Domestic Missionary Society. American 
Home Missionary Society, its Object, its Auxiliaries, and Agencies; Western 
Agency, Central Agency : Mode pf Operations. Field of Labor: Amount of Ser- 
vice. Operations of the Society in Western New York - Result of these Opera- 
tions. 

Genesee Missionary Society. 

This Society cannot compare, in the amount of its operations, 
or in the magnitude of its results, with the larger societies of Con- 
necticut and Massachusetts, or with the Board of Missions of the 
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. But it was one of 
the early missionary organizations : it originated in Western New 
York ; its operations were confined within that region ; and its 
influence, for a number of years, in increasing the number of 
churches and in sustaining those of them that were feeble, was 
salutary. 

The Genesee Missionary Society was organized at the town of 
Phelps, where now stands the village of Vienna, in the month of 
January, 1810. It may not be amiss to record the incident which 
gave rise to the idea of forming a missionary society in the Gene- 
see country, at a period when the churches were few in number 
and feeble in means. The semi-annual meeting of the Ontario 
Association was to be holden at Phelps, on the second Tuesday of 
January. On the Sabbath preceding this meeting, Deacon Abiel 
Lindsley of Prattsburgh, a man of eminent piety, and who has long 
since gone to his final rest, being detained from public worship on 
account of ill health, and feeling impressed with a strong desire 
that some additional means might be employed to promote the in- 
crease of piety in the region, directed a note to his pastor, Rev. 
James H. Hotchkin, who was expected to attend the meeting of 
the Association, suggesting the propriety of some action on the 
part of the Association, to raise from the churches under their care 
funds for the distribution of Bibles and religious tracts among the 
destitute in the region around, or in some other way to provide for 
the religious instruction of perishing souls. The receipt of this 
note suggested to the mind of Mr. Hotchkin the idea of a mission- 



MISSIONARY OPERATIONS. 



191 



ary society, as the most permanent means of supplying the spiritual 
wants of Western New York. At that period much of the region 
was an unbroken wilderness. Where settlements had commenced 
many of them consisted of a few families, widely separated from 
their neighbors. The churches were comparatively few, consist- 
ing of a small number of members, and many of these poor as to 
temporal estate. Without missionary aid their condition was al- 
most hopeless. The aid received from the General Assembly's 
Board of Missions and the several missionary societies in the East- 
ern States, though immensely valuable, was inadequate to the 
wants of the country. Some of the churches in Western New 
York, in the earliest settled places, had acquired such a degree of 
consistency and strength, as to be able to support the institutions 
of the gospel for themselves, and do something to assist their more 
indigent neighbors. This ability, it was believed, might be more 
effectually called out, by the organization of a society of which 
their pastors and members should be the responsible agents. Un- 
der this impression, Mr. Hotchkin, at the meeting of the Associa- 
tion, introduced a resolution for the immediate organization of a 
missionary society, and was highly gratified in finding that his 
views of the subject were embraced by all his brethren of the As- 
sociation, both clerical and lay members. A constitution was the 
next day adopted, and the necessary officers of the Society elected. 
As members of the Society were included all regularly ordained 
ministers, of the Presbyterian and Congregational denominations, 
residing in the Genesee country and its vicinity, who were disposed 
to act with the Society ; and one elder, or delegate, from each 
church of those denominations, within the same limits ; also all 
other persons who should subscribe and pay an initiation fee of 
two dollars, and one dollar annually thereafter. Rev. Jedidiah 
Chapman, of the Presbytery of Geneva, was elected president of 
the Society. At a subsequent period the Society was legally incor- 
porated by an act of the Legislature. 

The Society thus organized, was, in a short time, by the aid of 
contributions from several congregations and individuals, enabled 
to commence missionary operations. But for a period of two or 
three years, the amount of contributions was small, and almost ex- 
clusively confined to the congregations in connexion with the On- 
tario Association. After the dissolution of the Association, as has 
been related, and the union of most of its ministers and churches 
with-the Presbytery of Geneva, the annual meeting of the Society 
was made to coincide, as to time and place, with the meeting of the 
Synod of Geneva, which body, at that time, and for some years af- 
terwards, embraced the whole territory of Western New York. 
The Presbyterian brethren generally engaged with spirit in the en- 
terprise, and from that period the Genesee Missionary Society re- 
ceived the support of all the Presbyterian and Congregational 
churches in Western New York. 



192 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



In January, 1814, the Society having been in existence about 
four years, the Trustees published a Narrative of the missions, 
which had been directed by them, from the time of the organization 
of the Society, to which was subjoined a statement of the funds, and 
of the expenditures of the Society up to that period. From this 
Narration it appears that the ministers and licentiates, who had 
been employed as missionaries in the service of the Society were 
Rev. Simeon R. Jones, Rev. Reuben Parmele, Rev. Aaron C. Col- 
lins, Rev. David Tullar, Rev. Oliver Ayer, and licentiates, Robert 
Hubbard, Silas Hubbard, Lyman Barritt, Samuel Parker, Orange 
Lyman, and Daniel S. Butrick. From their several journals, it ap- 
peared that they had performed seventy-five weeks of missionary 
service, and had, in the aggregate, preached four hundred and 
twenty-six sermons, besides performing the other duties of mission- 
aries. It appeared that the missionaries had been cordially re- 
ceived, and that their labors had been useful. The contributions 
to the funds of the Society, up to this period, amounted to the sum 
of seven hundred and twenty-seven dollars and forty-seven cents, a 
portion of which was expended in the purchase of religious books 
and tracts. Subsequent to the period embraced in the narration, it 
appears from the Treasurer's book, that the receipts of the treasury 
amounted to the sum of eight hundred and forty-seven dollars and 
forty-three cents, making the whole amount of receipts, during the 
continuance of the Society's operations, twenty-five hundred and 
seventy-four dollars and ninety cents. Of this sum, more than eight 
hundred dollars were donations from Female Associations, organ- 
ized for benevolent objects. As so large a proportion of the funds 
of the Society were derived from this source, it may be due to the 
benevolent ladies of these Associations, to name the several institu- 
tions, with the amount of their respective contributions. They are 
the following, viz. : 



The Female Charitable Society, of Marcellus, . . $133 44 
The Female Cent Society, of Prattsburgh, . . . . 143 46 

The Female Cent Society, of Bath, 188 86 

The Female Cent Society, of East Bloomfield, . . . 59 00 

The Female Cent Society, of Lima, 8 00 

The Female Cent Society of Skeneatoles, 23 69 

The Female Cent Society, of Victor, 37 00 

The Female Cent Society, of West Bloomfield, . . . 44 68 

The Female Association, of Genoa, 9 00 

The Female Cent Society, of Danby, ...... 32 00 

The Female Charitable Society, of Locke, . . . . 16 54 

The Female Charitable Society, of Auburn, .... 5 00 

The Female Charitable Society, of Homer, .... 107 33 



Besides the above, twenty-six dollars and twenty cents are credit- 



MISSIONARY OPERATIONS. 



193 



ed as donations from female societies, without naming the socie- 
ties. The societies denominated Cent Societies, and probably those 
otherwise designated, were organized on the principle, that the 
members should contribute each one cent a week to the treasury of 
the Society. The ladies of these Societies deserve warm commen- 
dation for their labors of love, in furnishing the destitute with a 
preached gospel, and the aggregate amount of their donations illus- 
trates the truth of the proposition, that " large results may grow from 
small causes.'''' The " cent a week " seems very insignificant, but 
given perseveringly, and by large numbers, in time it swells to a 
large amount, and, if given from love to Christ and the souls of men, 
may result in'the accomplishment of incalculable good. 

In the latter part of the year 1813, the Society was directed to 
the state of the Indians in Western New York. Mr. Daniel S. 
Butrick, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Geneva, was preaching 
to the congregation of Geneseo, in the vicinity of the Indian settle- 
ment at Squakey Hill. During his preparatory studies for the 
ministry, his attention was directed to a consideration of the 
state of the heathen world, particularly the aborigines of our 
own country. He viewed them in their state of degradation, 
wretchedness, and sin, and he longed to do something to pro- 
mote their spiritual and eternal welfare. It was his desire, at 
that period, that he might, when admitted to the ministerial 
office, be employed as a missionary to the Indians, a desire 
which has since been gratified by his appointment, by the Board of 
Commissioners for Foreign Missions, as a missionary to the Che- 
rokee Indians, in which station he has been honorably and usefully 
employed for many years. While Mr. Butrick resided at Geneseo, 
he often visited the Indians in their lodges, and sometimes addressed 
them, by means of an interpreter, on the subjects which concern 
salvation. At a meeting of the Presbytery of Geneva, Mr. Butrick 
brought the case of the Indians to the notice of the Presbytery, and 
by the Presbytery it was referred to the Genesee Missionary So- 
ciety. The Society instructed their trustees to act upon the subject. 
The trustees, through their committee, established a school for the 
children and youth of the Indians, at Squakey Hill. The school 
was placed under the care and tuition of Mr. Jerediah Hosford, a 
pious young man from the State of Vermont. For a season, the 
school engaged the attention of the Indians, and some of the chil- 
dren made some progress in reading. As a proof of their aptitude 
for learning, it may be observed that one of the Indian boys learned 
the whole alphabet the first day of the school, although, in the 
morning of that day, he did not know a single letter. The school 
was continued for about six months, and then ceased, in consequence 
of the impaired health of Mr. Hosford ; and as no suitable person 
to succeed him appeared, it was never revived, and the Society 
made no further attempts to Christianize the Indians. Whether 

13 



194 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



any saving benefit to any soul has resulted from this attempt will 
be made known at the Great Day. 

The operations of the Society for the benefit of the white inhabit- 
ants, continued to be carried on with a good degree of vigor and 
success till some time in the year 1818. About this period the 
treasurer of the Society failed in business, and he became insolvent, 
having in his hands funds belonging to the Society, to the amount 
of four hundred and forty-two dollars, none of which was ever re- 
covered by the Society. This circumstance put an effectual stop 
to the further employment of missionaries. A considerable period 
elapsed before all the debts of the Society were liquidated. Other 
missionary institutions had arisen on a more enlarged plan, and the 
friends and patrons of the Society directed their efforts into another 
channel, and suffered the Genesee Missionary Society to expire. 

During the latter period of the Society's operations, between 
three and four years of missionary labor was performed, besides a 
considerable distribution of religious books and tracts. Among the 
names of missionaries employed by the Society, for longer or shorter 
periods, are found the following, viz. Rev. Messrs. Reuben Par- 
mele, Lyman Barritt, Abiel Jones, Aaron C. Collins, Samuel 
Parker, John Bascom, Oliver Ayer, Daniel Nash, Enoch Whipple,. 
Hugh Wallace, Eleazar Fairbanks, Ira M. Olds, S. Tracy, Joseph 
Edwards, Charles Mosher, Ezra Woodworth, Reuben Hurd, Jesse 
Townsend, Daniel S. Butrick, Benjamin Baily, Roger Adams, and 
Jepthah Pool. What particular results were connected with the 
labors of these several missionaries cannot now be told. There 
can, however, be no doubt that they were instrumental in strength- 
ening the feeble churches, preparing the way for the organization 
of others, comforting the hearts of the people of God in the wilder- 
ness, and converting some sinners from the error of their ways. 

Female Missionary Society of the Western District. 

This Society was organized in Utica, in the year 1817, and was 
comprised mostly of ladies in Utica and the surrounding towns. 
Branch Societies in connexion with it were formed in various 
places. Of such Societies there were, in 1819, six in the county of 
Onondaga, five in the county of Cayuga, six in the county of Ontario, 
and eight in the county of Genesee, besides a number in counties 
further east. The receipts into the treasury for the year ending 
September 7th, 1819, amounted to more than thirteen hundred 
dollars. In 1827, this Society became auxiliary to the Western 
Domestic Missionary Society, and ceased to employ missionaries, 
limiting its operations to the obtaining of funds for the parent Society. 

During the ten years of its independent existence, it employed 
annually a number of missionaries, several of whom labored with 
fidelity and effect on the territory to which this History relates ; 



MISSIONARY OPERATIONS. 



195 



but, for a want of the necessary documents, the details of their 
labors cannot be recited. 

The Young People's Missionary Society of Western New York. 

This Society was organized at Utica in the year 1814 or 1815. 
It was composed of young people of both sexes, and its seat of ope- 
ration was at Utica. In the spring of 1815, Rev. Miles P. Squier, 
then a licentiate preacher, was employed as their first missionary. 
His particular designation was, to explore the more unsettled por- 
tions of the country, and form auxiliaries in the principal villages 
and towns in Western New York. This service he performed 
with indefatigable industry and success. In t the fulfilment of his 
mission he entered upon the territory to which this history relates, 
at Wolcott, passed on to Clyde, thence through Geneva and Ro- 
chester, by the ridge road to Lewiston and Buffalo, where he spent 
two weeks, and then returned to Utica by a more southern route. 
Soon after the appointment of Mr. Squier, Rev. Elisha P. Swift, also 
a licentiate preacher, received a similar appointment on a more 
southern route, which he ably fulfilled, and with much success. 
Many Auxiliary Societies were formed by these missionaries, whose 
contributions replenished the treasury of the parent Society, and 
enabled it to prosecute the work of missions with a good degree of 
vigor, and for several years this Society did considerable to supply 
the destitutions of Western New York. 

The Western Domestic Missionary Society, Auxiliary to the 
American Home Missionary Society. 

This Society was organized by a Convention held at Utica, June 
7th, 1826. It acted independent of the Parent Society, both in the 
appointment of missionaries, and in raising funds for their support. 
Its first Annual Report, dated May 3d, 1827, exhibited an income 
of two thousand, five hundred and seventy-seven dollars for the 
year, and thirty missionaries appointed to fields of labor, some of 
whom were employed within the counties of Onondaga, Madison, 
and Chenango ; but most of them in places further north and east. 
These missionaries were not itinerants, appointed for a few weeks 
to travel and preach, but were stationed in particular congrega- 
tions, to receive the principal part of their support from the people 
to whom they ministered. From the second Annual Report, it ap- 
pears that during the year ending May 1st, 1828, fifty-five mis- 
sionaries in the service of the Society had ministered to about one 
hundred congregations. Of these, fourteen were assigned to fields 
within Western New York. Their commissions were generally 
for one year. During the next year, the Society had in employ 
sixty-four missionaries, but their particular fields of labor are un- 
known to the writer, as well as the proportion of labor which was 



196 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



expended upon the field, concerning which he treats. After this 
period the Society was dissolved, and its place supplied by the 
Central Agency of the American Home Missionary Society, and 
all its operations were involved with those of that Society. 

Young Metis Missionary Society of New York. 

On the twenty-third day of January, 1809, a number of young 
men of different religious denominations, in the City of New York, 
formed themselves into a Society " for the purpose of raising a 
fund to aid in promoting the objects of the New York Missionary So- 
ciety." The Society was denominated " The Assistant New York 
Missionary Society." In 1816, they resolved on the future manage- 
ment of their own funds, independently of the Parent Society, and took 
the style of " The Young Men's Missionary Society of New York." 
Near the close of the same year, in consequence of a division in 
sentiment respecting the qualifications of the missionaries to be em- 
ployed by the Society, a secession took place, and, on the twenty 
seventh day of December, 1816, anew Society, denominated " The 
New York Evangelical Missionary Society," was organized. The 
two Societies continued their missionary operations, independent of 
each other, until a short time after the organization of the United 
Domestic Missionary Society, which occurred in May, 1822. 
Shortly after this event, the two Societies transferred their en- 
gagements and relations to this new Society. To what extent 
their missionary operations affected Western New Yoi'k, the writer 
is not informed. It appears, that, at the time of the transfer of 
engagements to the United Missionary Society, they had twenty- 
six missionaries in employ, some of whom were laboring in West- 
ern New York. 

United Domestic Missionary Society. 

This Society was organized in the city of New York, in the 
month of May, 1822, by a convention of delegates from various 
domestic missionary associations. The term " United" was em- 
ployed in giving it a name, because it was a union of various small 
er associations, and because it embraced as members, persons of 
different religious, but kindred denominations. Hon. Stephen Van 
Rensselaer, of Albany, was elected President, and held the station 
till the Society was merged in the American Home Missionary 
Society. In the first Annual Report, made in May, 1823, fifteen 
missionaries are named, who were appointed to labor in Western 
New York. Of these, nine were commissioned for one year, two 
for six months, three for four months, and one for two months. 
The report for May, 1824, records the names of nineteen mission- 
aries commissioned during the year, to labor in Western New 
York. Fourteen of these were appointed for twelve months, two 



MISSIONARY OPERATIONS. 



197 



for six months, one for three months, and two for two months each. 
The report for 1825 gives a list of thirty-five names of missionaries 
appointed to labor on needy fields in this portion of the vineyard. 
Six of these received commissions for one year, nine for three 
months, eight for two months, two for four weeks, and for ten no 
period is named in the report ; it is supposed that their commissions, 
generally, were for one year. The fourth and last Annual Report 
of the Society, made May 12th, 1826, names forty-two missionaries 
commissioned for Western New York, the year preceding. Thirty- 
six of these held commissions for one year, one for six months, 
and respecting five, the period of their commissions is not men- 
tioned. It is supposed to have been for one year. By these forty- 
two missionaries, forty-seven feeble congregations were aided in 
supporting the stated ministrations of the Gospel, many of which, 
without this aid, would have been destitute. 

At the annual meeting of the Society, in the city of New York, 
May 12th, 1826, a Constitution for a Society of greater extent, and 
w r hich was designed to embrace kindred denominations throughout 
the boundaries of the United States, was laid before the Society. 
This Constitution had previously received the approbation of a 
Convention, numerously attended, which had been held two days 
previously, and at which a resolution had passed, recommending 
that the United Domestic Missionary Society, by the adoption of 
the Constitution, should become " The American Home Missionary 
Society." The Society, in accordance with the recommendation 
of the Convention, "Resolved — That the recommendation of the 
Convention be adopted, and that the United Domestic Missionary 
Society now become the American Home Missionary Society, un- 
der the Constitution recommended by the Convention." 

American Home Missionary Society. 

The Convention by which the Constitution for this Society was 
recommended, was composed of distinguished individuals of the 
clergy and laity from the States of New Hampshire, Vermont, 
Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylva- 
nia, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Alabama, and 
Arkansas. The second article of the Constitution declares the 
great object of the Society to be, " to assist congregations that are 
unable to support the gospel ministry, and to send the gospel to the 
destitute within the United States." Immediately after the or- 
ganization of the Society by the adoption of the Constitution, Hon. 
Stephen Van Rensselaer, LL.D., of Albany, was elected President 
of the Society. Rev. Absalom Peters was chosen Corresponding 
Secretary. Twenty-six gentlemen, in different parts of the United 
States, distinguished as civilians or clergymen, and belonging to 
different but kindred denominations of professing Christians, were 
elected Vice-Presidents ; fifty Directors, of similar character, were 



198 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



elected, and an Executive Committee consisting of ten individuals 
residing in the city of New York, of whom six were laymen and 
four clergymen, besides the Treasurer, the Corresponding Secre- 
tary, and the Recording Secretary. The principal Auxiliary So- 
cieties connected with the American Home Missionary Society are, 
the Maine Missionary Society, the New Hampshire Missionary 
Society, the Vermont Domestic Missionary Society, the Massachu- 
setts Home Missionary Society, the Rhode Island Home Missionary 
Society, the Connecticut Missionary Society, the Philadelphia Home 
Missionary Society, and the Missouri Home Missionary Society. Be- 
sides these Auxiliary Societies, the Parent Society has a number of 
Agencies, composed of a number of individuals, clergymen and lay- 
men, in different parts of the country, each Agency having the princi- 
pal management of the missionary concerns within a certain defined 
district. These Agencies are, the Central Agency of the State of New- 
York, the Western Agency of the State of New York, the Western 
Reserve Agency (Ohio), the Marietta Agency (Ohio), the Cincinnati 
Agency (Ohio), and the Wisconsin Agency. In addition tothese theSo- 
ciety maintains an agent in Michigan, another in Illinois, and another 
in Iowa. The Western Agency for the State of New York has the 
supervision of the missionary concerns of the Society in the counties 
of Cayuga, Tompkins, Tioga, and all the counties in the State, which 
lie to the west of these. The Central Agency has relation to that 
part of the State which lies east of these counties, north of Dela- 
ware and Greene, and west of the Hudson river and Lake Cham- 
plain. The territory over which the Western Agency has super- 
vision is wholly within Western New York. The Central Agency 
embraces the counties of Onondaga, Cortland, Broome, Chenango, 
and Madison, which we have included in Western New York. 
The Western Agency, originally denominated the Geneva Agency, 
was first established by the United Domestic Missionary Society, 
and when that establishment became the American Home Mission- 
ary Society, the Agency was continued, and its number of mem- 
bers and field of operations were considerably enlarged. Rev„ 
Miles P. Squier was, for a number of years, the efficient Secretary 
of this Agency. After his resignation, Rev. John Murray succeeded 
him, and for a number of years past has successfully discharged 
the duties of Secretary and General Agent. The Central Agency, 
on the dissolution of the Western Domestic Missionary Society, 
was established in October, 1829. The seat of its operations was 
Utica. Rev. Ralph Cushman was the first Corresponding Secretary 
and Agent. He was succeded by Rev. Ova P. Hoyt, who was 
succeeded by Rev. Abijah Crane, by whom the duties of the office 
have been performed ever since 1832, up to the period of his 
death, which occurred, May 14th, 1847. He was succeeded by 
Rev. Washington Thatcher. 

The mode of operation of the American Home Missionary Society 



MISSIONARY OPERATIONS. 



199 



from the beginning has been, with very few exceptions, to appoint 
the missionary to a particular congregation, or, perhaps, two, or even 
three contiguous congregations, to remain stationary in the field to 
which he is appointed, and perform the duties of a pastor or stated 
supply. The appointment is made on the application of the people 
with whom the missionary is to labor, and on proper testimonials 
that they need the assistance of the Society in the support of their 
minister. The minister is required to bear credentials satisfactory 
to the ecclesiastical judicatory with which he is connected, which 
must be a body of an orthodox character. The aid is continued 
as long as it is judged to be needed. The whole support of the 
missionary is not, except in very few instances, assumed by the 
Society. The commission is generally for one year, the mission- 
ary to receive his compensation for a certain portion of the year, 
generally not more than three months, at the rate of $400 for the 
year, from the treasury of the Society. In its manner of operation 
it is mostly a Society to assist indigent churches to support a 
pastor. The field of its operations is the United States. During 
the year 1845, its missionaries were laboring in twenty-six different 
States and Territories. Since its organization in 1826 its funds 
and, consequently, its appointments, and its usefulness, have very 
greatly increased, and, as we believe, it has been growing in favor 
both with God and man. During the first year of the Society's 
existence, the year ending May, 1827, the number of missionaries 
who had been commissioned by the Society, was one hundred and 
sixty-nine, of whom one hundred and twenty-six were pastors or 
stated supplies in single congregations ; twenty-five divided their 
labors between two or more congregations; and eighteen, including 
agents, were allowed to exercise their ministry over territories of 
larger extent. These missionaries had performed, within the year, 
an aggregate of ministerial labor amounting to one hundred and 
ten years, and the average proportion of aid in their support, 
granted by the Society, was less than one fourth. The receipts 
into the treasury of the Society during the year, were to the 
amount of $20,031, 21, and the disbursements, $13,384 17. In the 
course of the year ending May, 1846, at which period the Society 
had been twenty years in existence, the Society had had in its ser- 
vice nine hundred and seventy-one ministers. Six hundred and 
eighty-three were pastors or stated supplies of single congrega- 
tions, and two hundred and eighty-eight had ministered to two or 
three congregations each, or had extended their labors over still 
wider fields. The aggregate of ministerial labor performed, was 
equal to seven hundred and sixty years, and the number of congre- 
gations and missionary districts supplied, in whole or in part, at 
stated intervals, with the preaching of the gospel and its ordinan- 
ces, was fourteen hundred and fifty-three, while many others 
enjoyed the occasional services of the missionaries. The receipts 



200 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



into the treasury of the Society for the year, including the balance 
on hand at its commencement, amounted to the sum of $128,928 40, 
and the disbursements to $126,193 15. From this statement it will 
be seen that the operations of the Society in twenty years had in- 
creased in about a six-fold proportion. 

The attention of the American Home Missionary Society has, 
from the beginning, been directed to the territory of Western New 
York. At the time of the organization of the Society, distinguished 
individuals from Western New York were present at the organi- 
zation, took an active part in the deliberations, and identified them- 
selves with the Society. Many churches in Western New York 
were both able and willing to contribute liberally for the support 
of domestic, as well as foreign missions. There were, at the same 
time, many churches unable, without foreign aid, to support the 
ministry among them, and many vacancies where churches were 
needed, if in any way provision could be made for the support of 
regular preaching. The churches generally were disposed to em- 
ploy the American Home Missionary Society as their agent through 
which to transact their missionary concerns. Nearly one-eighth of 
the whole income of the Society, during the first year of its opera- 
tions, was derived from Western New York, and congregations, 
auxiliary societies, and individuals, contributed in the full expecta- 
tion that their own wants would claim the particular attention of 
the Society. During the whole period of the Society's operations, 
as near as the writer can ascertain, somewhat more than four hun- 
dred churches in Western New York have, to a greater or less 
extent, been aided in the support of a minister, by the funds of the 
Society. To name all the congregations thus aided, with the mis- 
sionaries who have supplied them, would be of little utility. But 
that the amount of the Society's operations in Western New York 
may be in some measure seen at one view, we here give the aggre- 
gate results for the several years of the Society's operations, extracted 
from the Annual Reports, which must be a very near approach to 
the truth. The first column marks the year, which is to be under- 
stood as ending with the month of April ; the second column con- 
tains the number of congregations aided during that year ; and the 
third, the aggregate proportion of time for which the funds of the 
Society were pledged, as near as can be ascertained. 



1827, 64, 12 years and 6 months. 

1828, 68, 13 years. 

1829, 76, 16 years. 

1830, 95, 17 years and 10 months. 

1831, 78, 15 years and 5 months. 

1832, 85, 16 years and 9 months. 

1833, 90, 15 years and 11 months. 

1834, 108, 20 years and 4 months. 



MISSIONARY OPERATIONS. 



201 



1835, 
1836, 
1837, 
1838, 
1839, 
1840, 
1841, 
1842, 
1843, 
1844, 
1845, 
1846, 



110, 

98, 
100, 
93, 
94, 
110, 
102. 
119, 
122, 
115, 
109, 
110, 



22 years and 8 months. 

20 years and 9 months. 

23 years and 8 months. 
19 years and 8 months. 
17 years and 5 months. 
22 years and 4 months. 

21 years and 8 months. 
34 years and 1 1 months, 
26 years and 8 months. 

22 years and 5 months. 
21 years and 8 months. 

24 years and 8 months. 



The number of missionaries commissioned is nearly the same as 
the number of churches aided, but somewhat less, as in some in- 
stances the same missionary divided his labors between two or 
more congregations. The commissions generally were given for 
one year, and repeated the succeeding year, if necessary. The 
average proportion of aid which has been granted is something less 
than one quarter of the missionaries' salary estimated at four hun- 
dred dollars for the year. The above schedule gives the length of 
time as stated in the missionary's commission. In numbers of 
instances, the missionary left the ground before the expiration of 
the term. Of course the time must be somewhat overrated in the 
schedule. It ought to be noted, that the contributions from Western 
New York to the funds of the Society, very considerably exceed 
the amount appropriated for the aid of the feeble churches in the 
region ; so that, though at first view it might seem as though Wes- 
tern New York received an undue proportion of aid from the 
Society, yet in fact, it is the case that she supports her own weak 
congregations, and supplies her destitutions, and at the same time, 
contributes five or six thousand dollars annually for the supply of 
the destitute in other parts of the great Home Missionary field. 

As to the favorable results of the operations of the American 
Home Missionary Society in Western New York, it may be re- 
marked, that, during the twenty years in which the Society has 
been endeavoring to cultivate this field, the number of churches has 
more than doubled, the number of communicants has increased in 
a still greater proportion, a greater proportion of congregations 
are supplied with stated preaching and administration of gospel 
ordinances, many edifices for the worship of God have been erect- 
ed, parsonages have been built, and debts have been cancelled 
which for years had lain as a heavy burden on the churches. All 
those institutions which grow up under the shadow of living 
churches, and which result from the faithful continued preaching 
of the gospel, attended by the enlightening and sanctifying influ- 
ences of the Holy Spirit, have been in a good measure prosperous. 



202 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Western New York, during the twenty past years, besides supply- 
ing her own destitutions, has contributed through the American 
Home Missionary Society, for the supply of the destitutions in other 
parts of the field, at least five times as much as has ever been ex- 
pended on her by eastern Missionary Societies. She now con- 
tributes, annually, to the different objects of Christian benevolence, 
more than fifty thousand dollars. She has given her sons and her 
daughters to the missionary work, both in our own country and 
among the heathen in distant lands, and she has furnished pious 
emigrants in immense numbers, to establish and build up churches 
in the Far West. How much of this is the result of the operations 
of the American Home Missionary Society, can be known accu- 
rately, only through the revelations of the Great Day. But no 
doubt can be entertained, that the Society,, instrumental! y, has been 
the cause to a very great extent of effecting these blessed results. 
Through the aid of the Society, the gospel has been statedly 
preached in very many places where it would not have been other- 
wise dispensed; the Holy Spirit has made it quick and powerful ; 
souls have been converted, and all those blessed consequences, 
which are the result of the Spirit's operations, have taken place. In 
the report of the Society for May, 1832, mention is made of revivals 
in thirty-nine congregations, supplied by the missionaries of the 
Society, in twenty-nine of which, the estimated aggregate number 
of conversions was more than one thousand. But for the aid fur- 
nished by the Society, many of these congregations would have 
been destitute of that instrumentality, which God has appointed for 
the conversion of souls. The labors of this Society are still con- 
tinued, and must, perhaps, be long continued, or many more 
churches in Western New York will be without the stated preach- 
ing of the gospel. They yet depend on missionary aid in support- 
ing the institutions of religion. The mode of the operation of the 
Society is adapted to their wants, and they never cry for aid with- 
out obtaining it. The aid afforded by this Society to Western 
New York is vastly more than that of all other Missionary Socie- 
ties united. With reference to it, we may say : " Give her of the 
fruit of her hands ; and let her own works praise her in the gates" 



203 



CHAPTER XVII. 

History of the Theological Seminary of Auburn. Action of the Synod of Geneva; of 
the General Assembly. Seminary located at Auburn : Labor commenced. Act of 
Incorporation. Corner-Stone laid. Seminary Buildings. First Meeting of the 
Boards of Trustees and Commissioners. Dr. Richards elected Professor of Theo- 
logy, but declined. Dr. Mills, Dr Perrine, and Dr Lansing elected Professors, 
Inaugurated. Instruction in the Seminary commenced. Ordinances of the Semi- 
nary. Course of Study. Anniversary. Vacations. Results of twenty-three years. 
Professorship founded' by Arthur Tappan. Dr. Richards elected Professor. Dr. 
Lansing's Resignation. "Bellamy and Edwards Professorship. Dr. Cox elected 
Professor. Death of Dr. Perrine. Dr. Halsey elected Professor. Dr. Cox's Re- 
signation. Dr. Dickinson elected Professor. Death of Dr. Richards. Dr. Kalsey's 
Resignation. Dr. Hickok elected Professor. Dr. Dickinson's Resignation. Mr. N 
Hopkins elected Teacher of Ecclesiastical History. Mr. Smith elected Professor. 
Funds of the Seminary. 

Among the Institutions which have been largely instrumental of 
promoting the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, and of advanc- 
ing the prosperity of the Presbyterian Church in Western New 
York, none is more conspicuous than the Theological Seminary of 
Auburn. In fact, its influence has been felt extensively in the 
Western States, and in other parts of the Union ; and its line has 
gone out through all the earth. More than twenty of the pupils of 
this seminary have gone out as foreign missionaries to preach the 
gospel in the distant parts of the earth to the besotted heathen, or 
to those who are under the chilling influence of a spurious Chris- 
tianity. 

At the annual meeting of the Synod of Geneva, held at Rochester, 
in the month of February, 1818, the subject of the establishment of 
a seminary in Western New York, for the purpose of preparing 
young men for the ministry of the gospel, was introduced by a 
resolution favorable to the establishment of such an Institution. It 
appeared that several of the brethren had had their attention turned 
to the subject for a period of time previous, and had had consulta- 
tion with one another on the subject. They, therefore, came to 
the meeting with some measure of preparation to discuss the sub- 
ject. To most of the members, undoubtedly, the idea of establish- 
ing a seminary in Western New York was new, and to some of 
them even startling. The deliberations of the Synod were pro- 
tracted through the greater part of two days, before the question 
was taken. The discussion proceeded with earnestness, but in a 
temperate and conciliatory manner, and a pretty wide range of 
argument was taken by the speakers. In favor of the measure, the 
numerous vacancies in Western New York, with no ministers to 



204 WESTERN NEW YORK. 

fill them ; the immensely increasing population of the Western 
States, to which Western New York constituted the great thorough- 
fare ; the detention of most of the young men educated at Andover 
and Princeton in the eastern and southern regions, with the great 
probability that this would in future continue to be the case ; the 
absolute inability of two Institutions to educate the number of 
ministers which the exigency of the time demanded, without in- 
creasing the number of the pupils beyond what is desirable to locate 
in any one Institution ; the great probability that the young men of 
Western New York, who were looking forward to the ministry as 
their future employment, would not enjoy the advantages which a 
well-endowed seminary affords, unless such an Institution were 
established in this region ; with the almost absolute certainty, that 
the vacant pulpits would be filled with an uneducated and incom- 
petent ministry, were urged with great force. The ability of the 
country to raise up and sustain such an Institution, and the friendly 
feeling and disposition to patronize an Institution in this region of 
country, which was known to exist in other parts of the Union, 
were insisted upon as reasons urging to the measure. On the 
other hand, it was suggested, that Western New York was not a 
region of sufficient amplitude or wealth to endow and support a 
Theological Institution ; that if one were established it could not 
vie with Princeton and Andover, and hence could not present 
equal inducements with those larger and elder Institutions, to young 
men for an extended education ; that as Andover was emphatically 
the seminary for the Congregational Church in the United States, 
so Princeton was emphatically the seminary of the Presbyterian 
Church, and w T hich all parts of the Presbyterian Church were bound 
to support ; that there was no pressing necessity, at least for the 
present, for another seminary ; that all the energies of the Presby- 
terian church were needed for the support of the Seminary at 
Princeton ; that other benevolent institutions of the highest im- 
portance were greatly hindered in their operations for the lack of 
sufficient funds, and that all the ability of the church was needed 
for the support of those institutions ; and, that the establishment of 
a Theological Seminary by a part of the Presbyterian Church, 
would have the appearance of hostility to the Seminary at Prince- 
ton, which had been instituted by the General Assembly, and was 
under its patronage and government. The question, whether the 
seminary, if one were founded, should be merely theological, or 
include in it the academical course of study likewise, was largely 
discussed. The discussion was continued as long as any of the 
members wished to continue it, when the vote was taken and car- 
ried in favor of attempting the establishment of an Academical and 
Theological Seminary, within the bounds of the Synod, provided 
the measure should not be discountenanced by the General Assem- 
bly. Measures were adopted to have the subject brought before 



THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF AUBURN. 



205 



the General Assembly in May, for the deliberation and advice of 
that body. A committee consisting of two ministers and one lay- 
man from each Presbytery belonging to the Synod was appointed 
to take into consideration such measures as might, in their opinion, 
be expedient for carrying into effect the resolution of the Synod ; to 
take measures to gain information, acquire funds, and receive pro- 
posals for locating and erecting such buildings as might be needful 
for the seminary ; and report at the next meeting of the Synod. 
The moderator was empowered to convene the Synod in a special 
meeting, should he be requested so to do by the chairman of the 
committee. 

At the meeting of the Assembly in May, 1818, the subject was 
introduced. The following extract from the minutes of the As- 
sembly will exhibit the action of that body on the subject : — " An 
overture from the Synod of Geneva, requesting the advice of the 
General Assembly relative to the establishment of an academical 
and theological seminary, which the Synod propose instituting 
within their bounds, was brought in and read. After the subject 
had been discussed for some time, the following resolution was 
adopted, viz. : — 

"Resolved, That the Assembly are not prepared at present to 
give any opinion or advice on the subject of the overture from the 
Synod of Geneva, which contemplates the establishment of an 
academical and theological seminary, believing the said Synod are 
the best judges of what may be their duty in this important busi- 
ness." 

As the Assembly placed no obstacles in the way, but referred 
the whole subject to the Synod, to act in the premises as in their 
judgment duty should dictate, the committee appointed by the 
Synod, on their meeting at Canandaigua in June, took the subject 
into serious consideration, and came to the unanimous conclusion 
that an attempt to establish a theological seminary in Western 
New York ought to be commenced without delay. The connect- 
ing with it an academical course of study was deemed altogether 
inexpedient. Incipient measures were adopted to obtain subscrip- 
tions, and to convene the Synod for further action on the subject. 
Subscription papers to obtain funds were put in circulation, and 
the Synod, in accordance with an authority intrusted to the mode- 
rator at the preceding meeting, was convened at Auburn on the 
fifth day of August, 1818. The action of the Synod on the subject 
was very harmonious, and they resolved to engage in the prosecu- 
tion of vigorous measures to establish and endow a theological 
seminary. It was also agreed that the seminary should be located 
at the village of Auburn, should the subscriptions already obtained 
within the county, within a given time, be increased to the sum of 
thirty-five thousand dollars, and ten acres of land be secured as a 
site for the institution. Other incipient steps were taken to pro- 



206 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



cure funds and provide for obtaining an act of incorporation from 
the Legislature of the State. The subscription to the funds, within 
the county of Cayuga, was speedily raised to the sum requisite to 
locate the seminary at Auburn, and an eligible site for the location 
of the necessary buildings was obtained, consisting of ten acres of 
land, generously given by Messrs. Cornelius and Glen Cuyler and 
the family of Hardenburgh. The friends of the seminary residing 
in the village of Auburn and its near vicinity manifested a very 
commendable liberality in their subscriptions towards the establish- 
ment of the institution. The following sums were, in a short 
period, obtained from the individuals whose names are prefixed to 
them, viz. : — 



Thomas Mumford, $2000 

Nathaniel Garrow and R. S. Beach, . . . 2000 

David Hyde and John H. Beach, . . . 2000 

Rev. Dirck C. Lansing, . . . . . 1000 

Horace Hills, .600 

Robert and John Patty, . . . . . 600 

Henry Ammerman, 500 

Walter Wood, 500 

Eleazar Hills, 500 

Hiram Lodge, ....... 500 

Ezekiel Williams, 500 

Joseph Cole, . . . . . * . 300 

William Brown, 225 

Erastus Pease, ....... 200 

Asa Munger, 200 

John and Salmon G. Grover, .... 200 

Ira Hopkins, 200 

Stephen Van Anden, . . . . . 200 

Samuel B. Hickcox, 150 

Ebenezer Hoskins, . . . . . . 100 

G. and P. Holly, 100 

T. and E. D. Cherry, . ..... 100 

Lawrence White, 100 

Henry Shultis, 100 

Micajah Benedict, 100 

Joseph Rhoades, ...... 100 

O. Reynolds, 100 

Ebenezer Gould, ...... 100 

Smaller subscriptions, 3239 



#16,514 

At the meeting of the Synod in February, 1819, at Geneva, the 
committee appointed at the preceding meeting made their report. 



THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF AUBURN. 



207 



The state of the subscriptions obtained, the means employed to 
obtain an increase of funds, a plan for a seminary building, and a 
draught for an act of incorporation by the Legislature, were laid 
before the Synod and approved, and a committee, consisting of 
Rev. Messrs. Dirck C. Lansing, Levi Parsons, and Benjamin B. 
Stockton, and Messrs. Thomas Mumford, William Brown, David 
Hyde, and John Lincklaen, were authorized to proceed in the 
business of erecting the edifice, and to apply to the Legislature of 
the State for an act of incorporation. 

The interesting ceremony of breaking ground preparatory to 
the erection of the building for the theological seminary of Auburn 
took place on the thirtieth day of November, 1819, in presence of 
a numerous and respectable company of the citizens of the village 
and vicinity, who had assembled with teams and suitable imple- 
ments, for the very laudable purpose of devoting a day's labor to 
so laudable an object. Previous to the commencement of the 
operation, the company united in a fervent address to the throne of 
grace, in which exercise they were led by Rev. William Johnson. 
They then listened to a very appropriate and animating address 
from Rev. Dirck C. Lansing, the pastor of the Presbyterian church 
of Auburn, after which the labor commenced. The enterprise of 
founding the Theological Seminary of Auburn w T as conceived in 
prayer ; the labor of preparing the ground for the building was 
commenced with prayer; the corner stone was laid in prayer; the 
enterprise progressed by the aid of prayer ; and through prayer 
and the favor of Almighty God as its result, the Seminary has been 
sustained to the present time, and blessed the world with its fruit. 

The next Spring an act of incorporation by the Legislature of 
the State was passed, of which the following is a true cop} 7 , viz. : — 

"AN ACT 

" To incorporate the Presbyterian Theological Seminary, established by the Synod 
of Geneva, at Auburn, in the county of Cayuga. 

Passed April 14, 1820. 

"Whereas it has been represented to this Legislature, by the committee 
appointed by, and on behalf of the said Synod, that they have established a 
Theological Seminary at Auburn, in the county of Cayuga, for the purpose of 
completing the education of pious young men, for the Gospel Ministry, and have 
obtained funds to a considerable amount; and that an act of incorporation would 
better enable them to obtain and manage the necessary funds for the accomplish- 
ment of their benevolent object: Therefore, 

" I. Be it enacted by the People of the State of New York, represented in Senate 
and Assembly, That John Linklaen, Glen Cuyler, Henry Davis, David Hyde, 
Thaddeus Edwards, Henry M'Niel, Levi Parsons, Benjamin B. Stockton, Dirck C. 
Lansing, William Wisner, Henry Axtel, Ebenezer Fitch, David Higgins, Seth 
Smith, and William Brown, and their successors, to be appointed as hereinafter 
provided, shall be, and hereby are constituted a body corporate and politic, in fact 
and in name, by the name of ' the Trustees of the Theological Seminary of 
Auburn, in the State of New York,' and by that name shall have succession,"and 
be in law capable of suing and being sued, defending and being defended in all 



208 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



courts and places, and in all manner of actions, suits, and causes whatsoever, and 
may have a common seal, and change the same at pleasure, and by that name and 
style be capable in law of taking, purchasing, holding, and conveying, both in 
law and equity, any estate real or personal : Provided nevertheless, That the clear 
annual value or income of their real estate shall not exceed three thousand dol- 
lars, and that of their personal estate seven thousand dollars. 

" II. And be it further enacted, That there shall for ever hereafter be fifteen 
Trustees of the said corporation, who shall be divided into three classes, to be num- 
bered one, two, and three ; the places of the first class shall become vacant on the 
first Wednesday of September, in the year eighteen hundred and twenty-one ; 
the places of the second class in one year thereafter, and the places of the third 
class in one year from that time ; and the vacancies in the said several classes, 
occasioned by the expiration of the time of service as aforesaid, or by resignation, 
death, or otherwise, shall be from time to time filled up in the manner hereinafter 
mentioned and provided. 

" III. And be it further enacted, That the said Trustees and their successors 
shall have the immediate care of the said Seminary, and the management of the 
estate, both real and personal, of the said institution, and shall have power to sell 
and otherwise dispose of the same, for the purpose of benefiting the funds of the said 
institution, and of applying the avails of those funds from time to time, to the pur- 
poses of the said institution, in such way and manner only, and in such sums as shall 
be appointed and directed by the board of commissioners hereinafter mentioned, 
and shall have power to make necessary by-laws and ordinances for the manage- 
ment of the said Seminary : Provided, That the same be not inconsistent with the 
laws and constitution of this State, or of the United States ; — And further, it 
shall be the duty of the said Trustees to keep a record, and make an annual re- 
port to the said board of commissioners of their doings, and of the state of their 
funds, and of the names of those whose term of service is about to expire, and of 
such other matters as they shall think proper ; and also to report the state of 
their funds to the Legislature, as often as they shall be thereunto required : Pro- 
vided, however, That no student of any Christian denomination shall be excluded 
from a participation in the privileges of this institution, on the ground of his 
religious persuasion. 

"IV. And be it further enacted, That the aforesaid John Linklaen, Glen Cuyler, 
Henry Davis, David Hyde, Thaddeus Edwards, Henry M'Niel, Levi Parsons, Ben- 
jamin B. Stockton, Dirck C. Lansing, William Wisner, Henry Axtel, Ebenezer 
Fitch, David Higgins, Seth Smith, and William Brown, be the first Trustees of the 
said corporation, and that they shall hold their first meeting at Lynch's inn, in the 
village of Auburn, on the second Wednesday of July next, when they shall pro- 
ceed to divide themselves by lot into three classes as aforesaid. 

And whereas the said committee on behalf of the said Synod, have further re- 
presented that there are other presbyteries within the State of New York, not 
connected with the said Synod, who are disposed to associate with them, for the 
purpose of aiding in the accomplishment of the aforesaid benevolent object : 
Therefore, 

" V. Be it further enacted, That a representation, annually to be chosen, of two 
clergymen and one layman from each of the following presbyteries (and such 
other presbyteries as shall hereafter associate with the said Synod for the pur- 
poses aforesaid), to wit : The presbyteries of Niagara, Genesee, Rochester, Bath, 
Ontario, Geneva, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, and St. Lawrence, shall compose a 
board of commissioners, who shall have the general superintendence, manage- 
ment, and control of the aforesaid institution, and who shall have authority to 
fill the places of the aforesaid Trustees, as they shall become vacant ; to appoint 
the Tutors, Professors, and other Officers of the said institution; to fix and deter- 
mine the salary and other compensation of the said officers ; to authorize and 
direct all such appropriations of their funds, as they shall think proper; to make 
by-laws and regulations for themselves; to choose their own President and other 



THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF AUBURN. 



209 



Officers, and to determine what number of their board shall form a quorum for 
doing business. 

" VI. And be it further enacted, That the first meeting- of said board of commis- 
sioners shall be held at Lynch's inn, in the village of Auburn, on the second 
Wednesday of July next, at two o'clock in the afternoon; and that the said 
board of commissioners shall meet afterwards on their own adjournments 

" VII. And be it further enacted, That in case the funds of the aforesaid insti- 
tution shall at any time hereafter be applied to any purpose other than what is 
hereby expressed or intended, then, and in that case, all the privileges and powers 
hereby granted shall cease and be utterly void. 

" VIII. And be it further enacted, That this act shall be, and hereby is declared 
to be a public act, and that the same shall be construed benignly and favorably 
for every beneficial purpose hereby intended; nor shall any non-user of the pri- 
vileges hereby granted to the said corporation, create or produce any forfeiture 
of the same ; and no misnomer of the said corporation, in any deed, will, testa- 
ment, gift, grant, demise, or other instrument, contract, or conveyance, shall defeat 
or vitiate the same : Provided, The said corporation shall be sufficiently described 
to ascertain the intention of the parties. 

" IX. And be it further enacted, That the Legislature may, at any time hereafter, 
amend, modify, or repeal this act." 

By this Act of Incorporation the general supervision and direc- 
tion of the Seminary were taken from the Synod of Geneva, and 
placed in the hands of a Board of Commissioners, to be selected an- 
nually by the Presbyteries. At the time of the application to the 
Legislature for the passage of this Act, it was expected that the 
Synod would ere long be divided into two or more Synods. It was 
also deemed desirable that several Presbyteries without the bounds 
of the Synod of Geneva, who were known to sympathize with them 
in the enterprise, should have a voice in the management of the 
concerns of the Seminary. These circumstances gave rise to the 
measure, which appears to have been a happy one, to enlist the 
feelings and engage the enterprise of the churches for a considera- 
ble distance around, in favor of the Seminary, and at the same time 
secure the correctness of the instruction which should be imparted 
to the pupils. It thus became the Seminary of the Presbyterian 
Church in Central and Western New York. 

At the time of obtaining the Act of Incorporation, subscriptions 
to forward the enterprise, to a considerable amount, had been ob- 
tained ; a site for the Seminary building had been procured, and 
the ground in some measure prepared for a commencement, and a 
plan for the building had been adopted. The whole concern was 
in the hands of an intelligent and active Committee, to urge on the 
work as fast as time and means would permit. On Thursday, the 
eleventh day of May, 1820, the corner-stone of the Seminary was 
laid by Col. Samuel Bellamy, of Skeneatoles, whose name, together 
with that of Col. John Linklaen, of Cazenovia, in honor of his having 
been one of the first projectors and advocates of the Institution, in- 
scribed on a silver medal, w T as deposited in the stone. On the same 
medal was also inscribed, "Behold, I lay in Zionfor a foundation. 

14 



210 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



a chief corner-stone, elect, precious." " Jesus Christ, the same yes- 
terday, to-day, and for ever" The whole ceremony was dosed with 
an address from Rev. Benjamin B. Stockton, of Skeneatoles, and a 
prayer and benediction by Rev. Dirck C. Lansing. A large num- 
ber of the ladies and gentlemen of the village attended, and gave a 
respectful and devout attention to the highly interesting solemnities. 
A very commendable progress in the work of the building was 
made during the summer and autumn following, but it was not un- 
til the autumn of the following year that it was so far completed as 
to be in a convenient state for the reception of students. 

The location of the Seminary is a commanding eminence, in the 
city of Auburn, on the eastern side of the outlet of the Owasco lake, 
a short distance from the Great Western Turnpike road, also within 
a very short distance of the Railroad depot. The street on which 
it stands is now denominated Seminary Street. The building, as 
first erected, was a substantial stone building, of limestone of an ex- 
cellent quality, with which the vicinity of Auburn abounds. It 
consists of a centre building, raised four stories upon the basement 
story, with a wing on each end, raised three stories upon the base- 
ment story. The whole building fronts the south. Through each 
wing runs a hall in each story, from front to rear, with two rooms 
for students on each side of the hall, making twelve rooms above 
the basement. The wings are each forty-two feet long, and forty 
wide. The centre building occupies the whole of the interval be- 
tween the wings, which is forty-two feet. It is on the same line 
with the wings in the rear, but projects in front five feet beyond 
them. The front of the centre building in the two stories next 
above the basement, is finished for a chapel. In the third story 
there are on one side of the hall a recitation room, and on the other 
a large and convenient public reading-room, furnished with the pe- 
riodicals of the day, including the theological, the literary, and 
those which give notice of passing events. The residue of the 
building, with the exception of halls, is divided into rooms for the 
occupancy of students. The basement story contains rooms for the 
family of the steward, a large dining hall, store rooms, and cellar. 
Such was the original Seminary building, which was completed in 
]828, at an expense of about twenty thousand dollars. There has 
since been added an additional building, adjoining the west wing, 
built of similar materials. This building is forty feet in front, and 
fifty-two feet in depth, projecting in front two feet beyond the wing 
to which it is attached, and receding ten feet in the rear. It is 
raised four stories above the basement story, and contains twelve 
rooms for students, two recitation rooms, and a large and conve- 
nient room for the Seminary library, which now consists of about 
six thousand volumes, and contains a very valuable collection of 
choice Theological Works, a considerable addition having been 
lately made. A commodious house for the use of the Professor of 



THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF AUBURN. 



211 



Theology, at an expense of four thousand dollars, has also been 
built. Also necessary out-buildings and a work-shop have been 
erected. 

The Seminary lot contains about twelve acres of land. Six acres 
of it were a donation from the heirs of Col. John L. Hardenberg ; 
two acres were a donation from Glen Cuyler, Esq., of Aurora, and 
two acres were purchased of Mr. Cuyler, which furnish the site of 
the Seminary edifice. Other ground adjoining was procured by 
purchase or exchange, and some lots have been sold. That which 
remains as the permanent Seminary lot, is, as above stated, about 
twelve acres. 

Pursuant to a provision in the Act of Incorporation, the Boards 
of Trustees and Commissioners of the Seminary met in the village 
of Auburn, on Wednesday the twelfth day of July, 1820, and after 
having organized, proceeded to business. The Board of Trustees 
was composed of the individuals named in the Charter, and was 
organized by the election of Rev. Henry Davis, D.D., President of 
Hamilton College, as its President. The Board of Commissioners 
consisted of the persons whose names follow, viz. 

Of the Presbytery of Oneida : — Rev. Israel Brainard, Rev. John 
Frost. 

Of the Presbytery of Onondaga : — Rev. Caleb Alexander, Rev. 
Daniel C. Hopkins. 

Of the Presbytery of Cayuga : — Rev. Samuel Parker, Col. 
Samuel Bellamy. 

Of the Presbytery of Geneva : — Rev. Evan Johns, Rev. Stephen 
Porter, Thomas Mum ford, Esq. 

Of the Presbytery of Bath : — Rev. James H. Hotchkin, Hon. 
Robert Porter. 

Of the Presbytery of Ontario Rev. Julius Steele, Rev. 
Ezekiel J. Chapman. 

Of the Presbytery of Rochester : — Rev. Chauncy Cook, Rev. 
Alanson Darwin. 

Of the Presbytery of Genesee : — Rev. Calvin Cotton. 

The Board was organized by electing Rev. Caleb Alexander 
President, for the year ensuing. 

The Prudential Committee, who, under the appointment of the 
Synod, had hitherto had the direction of the concerns of the Insti- 
tution, reported to the Board of Trustees their proceedings up to 
the time of the meeting, the then present state of the edifice, the 
sources from which funds had been derived, the amount unexpend- 
ed, with the liabilities of the Institution. The Trustees were 
authorized to complete the Seminary edifice on the plan specified 
in the Report of the Prudential Committee. Fifteen thousand dol- 
lars were appropriated for the building, and fifteen hundred for 
contingent expenses. The Board of Trustees made the necessary 
provisions for completing the edifice, and adopted measures for in- 



212 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



creasing the funds, and providing a library. In view of the state 
of the funds, the progress of the edifice, and the prospects of the 
Institution, the Board of Commissioners deemed it both expedient 
and important to adopt such measures as should put the Seminary 
into operation as soon as possible. With this view it was deter- 
mined to proceed to the choice of a Professor of Theology. Af- 
ter mature deliberation on the subject, the members were called on 
to vote for a Professor, by ballot, when it appeared that Rev. James 
Richards, D.D., of Newark (N. J.), was unanimously elected to fill 
the chair. A resolution was then sent down to the Board of Trustees, 
informing them of the result, and inviting them to unite with the 
Board of Commissioners in giving thanks to Almighty God for the 
unanimity and harmony which had characterized their proceedings 
in the choice of a Professor ; to which the Trustees replied, in the 
following resolution : " Resolved, unanimously, that the Board of 
Trustees of the Theological Seminary approve of the resolution 
of the Board of Commissioners, appointing Rev. Doctor Richards 
a Professor of Theology in this Institution, and that they cheerful- 
ly comply with their request, and will forthwith unite with them in 
returning thanks to the Almighty God for the unanimity of their 
proceedings, and in imploring the Divine blessing upon the future 
operations of the Institution." A joint meeting of the two Boards 
was held, and a solemn and appropriate prayer was addressed to 
the throne of grace by Rev. Evan Johns, a member of the Board 
of Commissioners. 

In view of the election of Dr. Richards, and the expectation of 
his acceptance of the chair of Theology in the Seminary, the 
hopes of the patrons and friends of the Institution were highly 
raised. They were, however, not to be gratified in their wishes at 
this time. Dr. Richards, after deliberation, declined the appoint- 
ment. In consequence of his declination, the Board of Commis- 
sioners were convened at Auburn, May 2d, 1821, and took the sub- 
ject of the election of Professors into serious consideration, and as 
the result, Rev. Henry Mills, of Woodbridge (N. J.), was elected 
Professor of Biblical Criticism and Oriental Languages ; Rev. 
Matthew La Rue Perrine, D.D., of the city of New York, was 
elected Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Polity, and 
to perform the duties of Professor of Didactic Theology, until that 
department shall be otherwise provided for ; and Rev. Dirck C 
Lansing, of Auburn, was elected Professor of Sacred Rhetoric. 
Mr. Lansing was Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Auburn. It 
was not contemplated that he should resign his pastoral charge, 
but appropriate as much time as should be consistent with his pas- 
toral duties, to the duties of the professorship. Dr. Perrine, who 
was at the time in the village of Auburn, being notified of his ap- 
pointment, declared his acceptance. Mr. Lansing also gave notice 
of his acceptance, accompanied with a declaration that his ser- 



THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF AUBURN. 



213 



vices should be without charge to the Institution. Mr. Mills, who 
was at the time in New Jersey, on being notified of his appoint- 
ment, in proper time transmitted a notice of his acceptance. At 
the same meeting the Board resolved, that the Institution should be 
opened for the reception of students, on the second Wednesday of 
October following. 

On the ninth day of October, 1821, the Board of Commissioners 
met at Auburn, and on the next day the Professors elect were in- 
ducted into office. The exercises on the occasion were in the fol- 
lowing order : — After the reading of the Scriptures, singing, and 
prayer, Rev. Caleb Alexander gave a history of the rise, progress, 
and present state of the Seminary, with its prospects for the fu- 
ture ; Rev. James H. Hotchkin, who was at that time President of 
the Board of Commissioners, announced the object of the meeting, 
received from the Professors elect the public declaration of their 
acceptance of the office of Professor in the Seminary, and read to 
them, in the hearing of the audience, the Formula for their assent 
and subscription in the following words, viz. 

" In presence of the omniscient and heart-searching God, I do 
solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare, that I believe the Scrip- 
tures of the Old and New Testaments to be the word of God, and 
the only infallible rule of faith and practice — that I do receive and 
adopt the Confession of Faith, and the Catechisms of the Presby- 
terian Church in the United States of America, as containing the 
system of doctrines taught in the Holy Scriptures — that I do ap- 
prove of the government and discipline of the Presbyterian Church, 
as prescribed in the 'Form of Government' and 'Discipline' of 
the Presbyterian Church in these United States — and I do solemnly 
promise to maintain with zeal and fidelity the truths of the Gospel, 
and to be faithful and diligent in all such duties as may devolve on 
me as a Professor in this Seminary, according to the best of my 
knowledge and abilities." 

To this Formula the Professors severally gave their assent, and 
subscribed their names ; an appropriate prayer was offered by Rev. 
'Evan Johns ; a charge to the newly inducted Professors was de- 
livered by Rev. Dr. Fitch ; after which the Professors severally 
delivered their Inaugural Addresses, and the exercises of the oc- 
casion closed. 

At the same meeting Ordinances for the government of the 
Seminary were adopted, to be in force until the next meeting of 
the Board, at which time they were revised, and finally adopted 
and published. By these Ordinances, every Professor in the Insti- 
tution must be " an ordained minister of the Presbyterian or 
Congregational Church, and must sustain the character of a learn- 
ed, judicious, and orthodox divine, and a devout Christian ; " and 
before entering upon the duties of his office, he must assent to and 
subscribe the preceding Formula. Every student applying for ad- 



214 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



mission, must " produce satisfactory testimonials that he possesses 
good natural talents, and is of a prudent and discreet deportment ; 
that he is of a good moral character ; that he has passed through, 
a regular course of Academical study, or wanting this, submit to 
an examination in regard to the branches of literature taught in 
such a course." The regular course of study comprises three 
years, corresponding with which the classes are three, and are re- 
spectively denominated, the Junior, the Middle, and the Senior 
Class. Students may enter the Seminary and enjoy the course of 
instruction for a shorter time than three years. The course of 
studies prescribed is as follows : Junior year. — Hebrew Language ; 
Critical Reading of the New Testament ; Principles of Interpre- 
tation ; Biblical Geography and Chronology ; Biblical History and 
Antiquities ; Mental and Moral Philosophy. Middle year. — Na- 
tural and Revealed Theology ; Canon of Scripture ; Hebrew and 
Greek ' Exegesis continued ; Principles of Sermonizing. Senior 
year. — Sermonizing ; Preaching ; Pastoral Duty ; Ecclesiastical 
History; Church Polity; The Jewish Theocracy; and the Princi- 
ples of the Old Dispensation. Exercises in Composition and 
Declamation take place through the whole course. An annual ex- 
amination of the classes is held, commencing on the Friday next 
preceding the Anniversary. This examination is conducted by the 
Professors, in the presence of the Committees of the Boards of 
Trustees and Commissioners, and such other persons as may be 
disposed to attend. The examination occupies three days, and is 
highly interesting. The Anniversary of the Seminary is a period 
of deep interest, and uniformly draws together a large collection 
of ministers and others from an extensive region, together with the 
inhabitants of the city of Auburn. On the day preceding is the 
annual meeting of the Boards of Trustees and Commissioners. On 
the same day is the meeting of the Society of Alumni, and a ser- 
mon is preached in one of the Presbyterian churches by a member 
of the Society appointed at the preceding annual meeting. In the 
evening of the same day there is public speaking by students repre- 
senting the. several Societies existing among them for literary and 
religious purposes. The speakers on this occasion are designated 
by the respective Societies. The public exercises on the day of 
the Anniversary consist of Dissertations or Addresses from the 
members of the graduating class on subjects assigned them by the 
Faculty. These exercises uniformly call together as large a con- 
course as can be accommodated in a very large church. In the 
evening of the anniversary, the annual meeting of the Western 
Education Society is held, on which occasion the audience is ad- 
dressed by individuals selected for the occasion. The Anniversary 
of the Theological Seminary of Auburn has been justly considered 
as the great annual Religious Festival of Western New York, and 
has been rich in the entertainments which it has furnished. This 



THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF AUBURN. 



215 



anniversary has been held on the third Wednesday in August, in 
times past ; but was, in 1845, appointed to be held on the third 
Wednesday in June, in time to come. The hospitality of the good 
people of Auburn has been tested in the most satisfactory manner, 
by their gratuitous entertainment of the members of the Boards of 
Trustees and Commissioners, and other visitors during the exer- 
cises connected with the anniversary. There have been, previous 
to the anniversary in 1845, two vacations in each year, amounting 
to twelve weeks in the whole. In future there is to be but one 
vacation in the year, to commence on the day of the anniversary, 
and to continue twelve weeks. No charge is made against the 
students for instruction, the use of rooms and furniture, or the 
benefit of the library. With most of the students the cost of board 
does not exceed one dollar and twelve and a half cents a week. 
The privileges of the Institution are available to students of all 
evangelical denominations. 

On the second Wednesday of October, 1821, the course of instruc- 
tion in the Seminary commenced. The number of students during 
the first year was eleven. At the commencement of the year 1845, 
when the Seminary had been twenty-three years in operation, the 
number of students who had been connected with it, besides its then 
present members, was 5L5; of these thirty-seven had deceased, and 
between twenty and twenty-five had, from want of health or other 
causes, failed to pursue the work of the gospel ministry ; more than 
twenty had gone to raise the standard of the cross among the 
perishing heathen tribes ; eighty had located themselves in the 
great valley of the Mississippi ; and a still larger number were 
laboring in the Northern and Western parts of the State of New 
York. About 480 were statedly preaching the gospel of salvation 
to their dying fellow-men. 

Dr. Perrine, in addition to the duties of Professor of Ecclesi- 
astical History and Church Polity, imparted instruction in theology 
for about two years, when he was relieved from the duties of the 
latter department and confined himself wholly to those of the former. 
On the 15th day of August, 1823, 15,000 dollars were contributed by 
Arthur Tappan, Esq., of the city of New York, as an endowment 
for a professorship of Christian Theology. This very liberal con- 
tribution was accompanied with the following declaration : — " The 
Founder of the Professorship of Christian Theology in the Seminary 
of Auburn, in the State of New York, being induced to endow this 
professorship from a sense of the importance, not only of a pious, 
but of a well-educated ministry for the edification of the church, the 
spread of the gospel, and the conversion and salvation of men 
from a conviction of the expediency and utility of institutions 
devoted to the education of pious young men for the gospel ministry ; 
and from the belief that this Seminary in its plan and location is 
well calculated to answer the beneficent purposes of such an insti- 



216 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



tution, and that its prospects of success depend upon the immediate 
establishment of this professorship upon the basis of a permanent 
fund ; and humbly aiming in this transaction to promote in the 
church the glory of God, he does hereby give, assign, and set over 
unto the Trustees of the Theological Seminary of Auburn, in the 
State of New York, the sum of 15,000 dollars in trust, as a capital 
fund for the purpose of maintaining a Professor of Christian Theo- 
logy in the said Seminary for ever. And he declares it to be his 
intention and design in granting the said sum, that it should be 
sacredly held and preserved for the purpose aforesaid, and kept 
separate and distinct from all other funds and property of the said 
Trustees, and be vested in sure and permanent funds, or put out at 
interest on good security ; and that the interesLor income of said 
Capital Fund should be. annually applied to the support of a Professor 
of Christian Theology, possessing the qualifications, and holding the 
Theological sentiments and faith which are required by the Ordi- 
nances of the Seminary now in force ; and he declares it to be an 
express condition upon which he grants this Fund, that no Profes- 
sor shall ever be placed or suffered to continue on this Foundation, 
who does not hold the System of Faith which the Ordinances of 
the Seminary at present require every Professor to hold ; and if 
at any time hereafter any Professor on this Foundation shall in any 
important article differ from the said System of Faith, and espe- 
cially if such Professor shall not fully believe and teach the true 
and proper divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, the personality of the 
Holy Spirit, the total depravity of man in his natural state, and the 
eternal punishment of the wicked, then the Founder of this Pro- 
fessorship reserves to himself, his heirs, executors, and assigns, the 
right to reclaim and receive back the Capital Fund hereby granted ; 
and he requires that this right should be fully recognised and agreed 
to by the Trustees of the Seminary on their receiving and accept- 
ing the said Fund, and that it should be acknowledged upon their 
records ; and he likewise reserves to himself, during his natural 
life, the right of prefixing such name or appellation to this Profes- 
sorship as he may think proper, and also the right of making any 
additional regulations respecting this Foundation, provided such 
regulations be not prejudicial to the true design of the Foundation, 
nor inconsistent with the Ordinances of the Seminary." At a subse- 
quent period this Professorship was named, " The Richards' Pro- 
fessorship of Christian Theology." At a meeting of the Board of 
Trustees of the Seminary, September 10th, 1823, this Fund was 
accepted in the form and with the conditions specified in the decla- 
ration of the Founder, the Board of Commissioners having given 
their consent. On the same day in which this Fund was accepted, 
the Board of Commissioners, by a unanimous vote, elected Rev. 
James Richards, D.D., Professor of Christian Theology. Dr. 
Richards accepted the appointment, removed his family to Auburn, 



THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF AUBURN. 



217 



and on the 29th of October, 1823, was inducted into office by the 
Board of Commissioners with the usual forms, and delivered on the 
occasion an inaugural address. The high estimation in which Dr. 
Richards was held by the Christian public, together with the con- 
sideration that the Faculty of the Seminary was now complete in 
number, with other circumstances, contributed greatly to the pros- 
perity of the institution, and from this period the number of students 
rapidly increased. 

At the annual meeting of the Board of Commissioners held Au- 
gust 16th, 1826, Professor Lansing tendered to the Board his resig- 
nation of his office as Professor of Sacred Rhetoric in the Seminary, 
giving at length his reasons for the act. In view of this procedure, 
the Board passed the following Resolutions, viz. 

" 1st. Resolved, — That the resignation of Professor Lansing be, 
and it hereby is, accepted. 

"2d. Resolved, — That the services of Mr. Lansing in the duties 
of his office in the Seminary, especially as they have been rendered 
without the expectation or reception of any pecuniary reward, have 
conferred upon this Board and the patrons of the Institution an 
obligation which is promptly and gratefully acknowledged. 

" 3c?. Resolved, — That the thanks of this Board be, and they 
hereby are, presented to the church and congregation under the 
pastoral care of Mr. Lansing, for their Christian feeling, liberal 
views, and patient generosity in submitting so cheerfully to those 
privations they must have sustained in the labors of their Pastor, 
so far as they have been devoted to the interests of the Seminary. 

" 4th. Resolved — That this Board, in behalf of this Christian 
community, and in their own behalf, do, in the exercise of Christian 
affection and respectful gratitude, record the name of D. C. Lan- 
sing among the Founders of this Seminary, and as one of the prime 
and most efficient agents in measures which have led to its estab- 
lishment, and its present pleasing and flourishing condition, and 
they devoutly implore for him on his retirement the blessing of 
heaven, as well as the sublime satisfaction of witnessing the rising 
reputation and the expanding influence of an institution which has 
hitherto taken so deep hold upon his heart, and which has been so 
eminently blessed by his efforts." 

After the resignation of Mr. Lansing the Professorship of Sacred 
Rhetoric remained vacant almost nine years, in consequence of the 
low state of the finances of the Institution. In the meantime the 
duties of the Professorship were fulfilled by the other Professors. 
In the year 1829, Col. Samuel Bellamy of Auburn, a member of 
the Board of Trustees of the Seminary, deceased, leaving a large 
share of his property after the decease of his wife to endow a Pro- 
fessorship of Sacred Rhetoric. The amount of this property was 
estimated between five and six thousand dollars. By the death of 
Mrs. Bellamy this property has become available for the support of 



218 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



the Professorship. In 1832, Thaddeus Edwards, Esq., of Skene- 
atoles, a member of the Board of Trustees, departed this life, leav- 
ing to the Seminary a legacy of 84,000. This legacy was added 
to that of Col. Bellamy, and appropriated as a permanent endow- 
ment of a Professorship to be denominated, " The Bellamy and 
Edwards Professorship of Sacred Rhetoric and Pastoral Theology." 
Provision being made for the support of a Professor, on the third 
day of December, 1834, Rev. Samuel H. Cox, D.D., of the city of 
New York, was elected to fill the place, and on the sixteenth day 
of June of the following year was inducted into office in the usual 
manner, and delivered an inaugural speech on the occasion. 

By the induction of Dr. Cox into the office of Professor of Sacred 
Rhetoric and Pastoral Theology, the Faculty of the Seminary was 
made complete, but it was not destined long to continue in this 
state. The health of Dr. Perrine had been for some time declining, 
and on the eleventh day of February, 1836, he departed this life in 
the enjoyment of an assured hope of a blessed immortality. The 
Board of Commissioners at their annual meeting in August follow- 
ing, in view of this afflicting event, recorded on their Minutes as 
follows, viz. — " During the past year the friends of this Institution 
have been called to mourn the decease of its oldest Professor, the 
Rev. Matthew La Rue Perrine, D.D., Professor of Ecclesiastical 
History and Church Polity. The Board, in view of this afflictive 
bereavement, feel called upon to record the high estimation in 
which Dr. Perrine was held, and the faithfulness and ability with 
which he discharged the duties of his office. Possessing talents of a 
high order, clear and discriminating in his views, meek and retiring 
in his manners, mild and affectionate in his disposition, and the whole 
sanctified by a devout and spiritual mind, he was ever the friend 
and counsellor of his pupils, as well as their able instructor. To 
him, under God, is this Seminary deeply indebted for its prosperity 
and usefulness, especially during the early period of its history, 
when for two years he was called upon, in addition to his appropri- 
ate duties, to discharge those of the Professor of Theology. But 
while we mourn our loss in that he has been called to his reward 
by his blessed Lord, we would render unfeigned thanks that he 
was permitted so long and so ably to employ the powers of his 
discriminating mind and the sympathies of his warm heart in the 
service of this beloved Institution." 

In consequence of the vacancy caused by the decease of Dr. 
Perrine, the Board of Commissioners, at a meeting held on the 
ninth day of November, 1836, elected Rev. Luther Halsey, D.D., 
to fill the vacancy. Dr. Halsey at the time of his election sustain- 
ed the office of Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church 
Government in the Western Theological Seminary located at Alle- 
ghanytown, adjacent to Pittsburgh. He resigned the office which 
he held in the Western Seminary, accepted the call to Auburn, 



THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF AUBURN. 



219 



removed his family thither, and on the fourteenth day of August, 
1837, was installed Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church 
Polity in the Seminary of Auburn, with the usual solemnities, and 
delivered an inaugural address upon the occasion. At the same 
meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Dr. Cox tendered his re- 
signation of the office of Professor of Sacred Rhetoric and Pastoral 
Theology in the Seminary, in consequence of some embarrassment 
in his temporal circumstances. The Board accepted his resigna- 
tion, and placed the subjoined Minutes on their Records, viz. — ■ 
" The Board very highly appreciate the services rendered by Dr. 
Cox in the department to which he was appointed, as also his very 
benevolent and efficient exertions in sustaining for a considerable 
time the responsible duties of a co-ordinate department, besides 
devoting the vacations to the interests of the Seminary in soliciting 
funds in various parts of the country. Tn accepting his resigna- 
tion the Board would acknowledge their great obligations to him 
for his faithfulness and zeal, and express their deep regret for the 
necessity that constrained him to resign, while we pray that the 
great Head of the church may abundantly bless his labors in preach- 
ing the gospel to the conversion and edification of many souls." 

To fill the Professorship made vacant by the resignation of Dr. 
Cox, Rev. Baxter Dickinson, D.D., of Cincinnati, was elected by 
the Board of Commissioners on the twentieth day of August, 1839. 
Dr. Dickinson at the time of his election filled the chair of Sacred 
Rhetoric in the Lane Theological Seminary at Cincinnati, in the 
State of Ohio. On being informed of his appointment he resigned 
his office in the Lane Seminary, accepted the call to Auburn, re- 
moved his family, and on the nineteenth day of August, 1840, was 
with the usual exercises inducted into the station of Professor of 
Sacred Rhetoric and Pastoral Theology. As is usual on the occa- 
sion, he delivered an inaugural address. 

With a full Faculty, united and able, the affairs of the Seminary 
were in a prosperous condition, though somewhat embarrassed in 
consequence of inadequate funds ; but in 1843 a reverse took place 
by the decease of the venerable and very able Professor, Dr. 
Richards. This event occurred on the second day of August, of 
that year. Dr. Richards's health had been declining for two or 
three years, and his age, with increasing infirmities, admonished 
him and the friends of the Seminary, that the time of his departure 
was at hand. Still his mind was vigorous and active, his memory 
retentive, his temperature cheerful, and for the most part of the 
time he was able to perform the duties of his Professorship till a 
short time previous to his death. At the annual meeting of the 
Board of Commissioners a few days after his decease, the following 
record was made on their minutes, viz. — " Whereas it has pleased 
Almighty God, in his sovereign and holy Providence, to remove by 
death the Rev. James Richards, D.D., Professor of Christian The- 



220 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



ology in this Institution ; Resolved, that' while, in the removal at 
this particular juncture of so able, faithful, and successful an instruc- 
tor of the pupils of this Seminary in revealed truth, we feel and sub- 
mit to the chastening hand of God upon ourselves, and upon the In- 
stitution, we do at the same time believe it to be our duty and 
privilege to remember with gratitude his great goodness in continu- 
ing the valuable services of the deceased for so great a number of 
years, and to such an advanced period of life." 

At a meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Sept. 13th, 1843, 
Dr. Halsey tendered his resignation of the office of Professor of 
Ecclesiastical History and Church Polity, but at the earnest request 
of the Board, he consented to withdraw his resignation on condi- 
tion that the Board would consider him legally at liberty to retire 
from connexion with the Seminary at the end of six months, in case 
he should then consider it his duty so to do. To this condition the 
Board gave their consent. At the expiration of six months Dr. 
Halsey, deeming it his duty so to do, dissolved all his relation to 
the Seminary, and retired, attended by the hearty good wishes of 
all its friends, patrons, and pupils. 

The Seminary was now left for a short season with but two 
Professors. The whole course of instruction was, however, re- 
gularly maintained, though the number of students was somewhat 
diminished. At the annual meeting of the Board of Commissioners 
held on the twenty-first day of August, 1844, Rev. Laurens P. 
Hickok, D.D., was elected Richards Professor of Christian Theolo- 
gy. At the time of his election he held a similar Professorship in 
the Theological department of the Western Reserve College, in 
the State of Ohio. After due deliberation Dr. Hickok signified his 
acceptance of the call to Auburn, removed his family, and on the 
eighth day of January, 1845, was, in accordance with the Ordinan- 
ces of the Institution, solemnly inducted into the station of Pro- 
fessor of Christian Theology in the Seminary. 

In 1847, Dr. Dickinson resigned his office as Professor of Sacred 
Rhetoric in the Seminary — an office which he had filled with great 
ability — and retired from Western New York. At the annual 
meeting of the Board of Commissioners in June of that year, Rev. 
Samuel M. Hopkins was elected Teacher of Ecclesiastical History, 
with a view to his being elected Professor of that department at a 
future period, should the way be prepared. At a subsequent 
meeting of the Board, Rev. John Few Smith was elected to 
the Professorship of Sacred Rhetoric and Church Polity, made 
vacant by the resignation of Dr. Dickinson. Mr. Smith has signi- 
fied his acceptance of the office, and a day has been assigned for 
his induction according to the usages of the Seminary. 

The permanent and productive funds of the Seminary consist of 
the appropriations for the support of the several professorships, 
the avails of which are sacredly pledged to this object. The first 



THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF AUBURN. 



221 



professorship fully endowed was the Richards Professorship of 
Christian Theology, founded by Arthur Tappan, Esq., of the city 
of New York, by a donation of fifteen thousand dollars, as has 
been already stated. 

The amount of the fund belonging to the Taylor Professorship 
of Biblical Criticism is $16,026 71. This fund was derived from 
donations or legacies from several individuals. The largest sum 
received from any one source was from the legacy of Mrs. Fally 
Taylor of Bloomfield, which amounted to about $3,400. 

For the support of the Bellamy and Edwards Professorship of 
Sacred Rhetoric and Pastoral Theology, there is a fund amounting 
to $16,333 44, derived from two legacies ; one of Col. Samuel Bel- 
lamy, late of Auburn, amounting to $7,200 of Auburn Bank stock, 
the other of Thaddeus Edwards, Esq., of Skeneatoles, amounting 
to $4,000. 

For the support of the Professorship of Ecclesiastical History 
and Church Polity, there is a fund of $8,612 17, donations from dif- 
ferent individuals. The largest of these donations were those of 
Moses Allen, Esq., of the city of New York, and Aristarchus Cham- 
pion, Esq., of the city of Rochester. Mr. Allen's donation was 
$2,500. That of Mr. Champion, $2,000. 



222 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

The Exscinding Act of 1837. Terms, " Old School" and "New School." Alleged 
Reasons for the Act Plan of Union, its Origin. State of the Churches in Western 
New York. Examination of the Plan of Union : Examination of the Reasons al- 
leged for the Exscinding Act. Manner in which the Synods and Presbyteries were 
constituted. Charge of" Gross Disorders" examined. " Great errors in Doctrine" 
charged on the Exscinded Synods, or vague expression. Testimony and MemoriaL 
List of errors. Extracts from the Minutes of the Synod of Geneva, the Synod of 
Genesee, the Presbytery of Buffalo. Report of the Convention of Auburn. 

An event in the history of the Presbyterian Church in Western 
New York, of a very noticeable character, and having an impor- 
tant bearing on its state and circumstances, has as yet been unno- 
ticed in this history. We refer to the Exscinding Act of the 
General Assembly of 1837, by which the two Synods in Western 
New York, together with the Synod of Utica and the Synod of the 
Western Reserve in the State of Ohio, were declared to be out of 
the ecclesiastical connexion of the Presbyterian Church. This sur- 
prising act of the Assembly produced an entire change in the re- 
lations of the Presbyterian Church in Western .New York ; and, in 
fact, in its results divided the Presbyterian Church in the United 
States into two distinct ecclesiastical bodies of nearly equal num- 
bers, each claiming to be " The Presbyterian Church in the United 
States of America." Various appellations have been made use of 
to designate these different ecclesiastical organizations and those 
that adhere to them, some of which are of a highly opprobrious 
character. In this work we shall employ the term " Old School" 
to designate that part of the church which is under the care of the 
Assembly which meets annually, and which sanctions the exscinding 
act of 1837 ; and the term "New School" to designate the other 
Assembly, with those who adhere to it. These terms are better 
known, and, perhaps, are less offensive than any other that have 
been employed to designate the respective parties ; and it is cer- 
tainly the intention of the writer not to give needless offence. Though 
he is identified with one branch of the church, he has feelings of 
fellowship for the other, and esteems it as an important section of 
Christ's visible family. 

The act of excision which was passed in General Assembly, 
June 5th, 1837, was couched in the following terms, viz. 

" Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
Church in the United States of America, 

" 1. That in consequence of the abrogation by this Assembly of 
the Plan of Union in 1801, between it and the General Association 



THE EXSCINDING ACT. 



223 



of Connecticut, as utterly unconstitutional, and therefore null and 
void from the beginning, the Synods of Utica, Geneva, and 
Genesee, which were formed and attached to this body under and 
in execution of said ' Plan of Union.' be, and are hereby declared 
to be out of the ecclesiastical connexion of the Presbyterian Church 
of the United States of America ; and that they are not in form, or 
in fact, an integral portion of said church. 

" 2. That the solicitude of this Assembly on the whole subject, 
and its urgency for the immediate decision of it, are greatly increased 
by reason of the gross disorders which are ascertained to have pre- 
vailed in those Synods, it being made clear to us, that even the 
Plan of Union itself was never consistently carried into effect by 
those professing to act under it. 

" 3. That the General Assembly has no intention, by these reso- 
lutions, to affect, in any way, the ministerial standing of any mem- 
bers of either of said Synods ; nor to disturb the pastoral relation 
in any church ; nor to interfere with the duties or relations of 
private Christians in their respective congregations ; but only to 
declare and determine, according to the truth and necessity of the 
case, and by virtue of the full authority existing in it for that pur- 
pose, the relation of all said Synods, and all their constituent parts, 
to this body, and to the Presbyterian Church in the United States. 

" 4. That inasmuch as there are reported to be several churches 
and ministers, if not one or two Presbyteries, now 7 in connexion 
with one or more of said Synods, which are strictly Presbyterian 
in doctrine and order, be it, therefore, further resolved, that all 
such churches and ministers as wish to unite with us, are hereby 
directed to apply for admission into those Presbyteries belonging 
to our connexion, which are most convenient to their respective 
locations ; and that any such Presbytery as aforesaid, being strictly 
Presbyterian in doctrine and order, and now in connexion with 
said Synods, as may desire to unite with us, are hereby directed 
to make application, with a full statement of their cases, to the 
next General Assembly, which will take proper order thereon." 

The vote on the first resolution was taken by yeas and adopted, 
yeas, 115; nays, 88; non liquet, 1. On the second, third, and 
fourth resolutions, the yeas were 113, and the nays 60 ; the com- 
missioners from the Presbyteries belonging to these Synods being 
excluded from voting, after the passage of the first resolution. At 
the time of the passing of the first resolution, the Assembly con- 
sisted of two hundred and forty-nine members, one having obtained 
leave of absence, and thirteen from the Western Reserve having 
been excluded by a previous act of the Assembly, declaring that 
Synod " to be no longer a part of the Presbyterian Church." It, 
therefore, appears that, when the question was taken, forty-five 
members were absent, and that the number voting in favor of the 
resolution lacked nine of being an actual majority of the whole 



224 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



number of members belonging to the Assembly, and was less, by 
seventeen, than a majority of all who had been acknowledged as 
members of the Assembly. There is, however, no doubt in the 
mind of the writer, that had every member of the Assembly been 
present, and cast his vote, the majority would have been found in 
favor of the resolution. 

It will be seen from these resolutions, that the act of the Assem- 
ly exscinding these Synods is grounded wholly on the alleged cir- 
cumstances, that these Synods were formed and attached to the 
Presbyterian Church " under and in execution of the Plan of Union " 
of 1801, between the General Assembly and the General Associa- 
tion of Connecticut, which plan, it is alleged, was unconstitutional, 
and therefore null and void from the beginning. The disorders 
charged upon the Synods, in the second resolution, are not stated 
as authorizing the act of excision, but only as constituting a motive 
for immediate action on ground which was warrantable. The 
members of the Assembly well knew that, if errors in doctrine or 
irregularities in practice actually existed in any branch of the 
Presbyterian church, that branch could not be excluded from the 
church until a fair trial had been had, and the accused party allowed 
an opportunity for defence. No definite charges had ever been 
tabled, no witnesses examined, nor any opportunity for defence on 
the part of the Synods afforded. Much has been said respecting 
this Plan of Union, and much which, in the estimation of the 
writer, is wholly irrelevant to the subject for which it is brought. 
The reader who has attentively perused the preceding pages of this 
work, will recollect that, in 1801, far the greater part of Western 
New York was an unbroken wilderness. Only a few churches 
had been organized. Almost all the inhabited part of the country 
was missionary ground. The missionaries who visited the country 
were most of them in the employ of the General Association of 
Connecticut, or of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
Church. Inhabitants were rapidly pouring into the country from 
the New England States, particularly from Connecticut; also from 
the lower part of the State of New York, from New Jersey, Penn- 
sylvania, and other States, in which the Presbyterian form of 
church government prevailed. The General Association of Con- 
necticut was doing much more than any other ecclesiastical body 
to furnish the preaching of the gospel for the destitute of Western 
New York. The Association was in correspondence with the 
General Assembly in the same manner as at the present period. 
It was a matter of high importance that no circumstance should 
arise to produce collision between the two bodies, or mar the fel- 
lowship between the large and respectable churches which they 
severally represented. Especially it was important that the few 
sheep in the wilderness should not stand aloof from each other, or 
be deprived of the ordinances of Christ's house, on account of small 



THE EXSCINDING ACT. 



225 



differences in sentiment respecting the eternal order of the church. 
Under these circumstances, and entertaining these views, the Gene- 
ral Association of Connecticut, at their meeting in June, 1800, ap- 
pointed a committee to confer with a committee that might be ap- 
pointed by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, on 
measures which might promote union among the inhabitants of 
the new settlements, and the missionaries to those settlements. 
At the meeting of the General Assembly in May, 1801, the General 
Association of Connecticut was represented by Rev. Samuel Blatch- 
ford. It does not appear that either of the other delegates appointed 
by the Association attended. The subject was laid before the As- 
sembly, and a committee, consisting of Rev. Doctors Jonathan 
Edwards, John M'Knight, John Woodhull, Rev. Samuel Blatch- 
ford, and Mr. Isaac Hutton, was appointed to digest a plan of go- 
vernment for the churches in the new settlements, agreeably to the 
proposal of the General Association. This committee reported a 
plan which was adopted by the Assembly, and unanimously ap- 
proved and adopted by the General Association, at their meeting 
in June, and from that period considered as a binding compact be- 
tween the contracting parties. The Plan is as follows, viz. 

"Regulations adopted by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 
America, and by the General Association of the State of Connecticut, with a view- 
to prevent alienation, and promote union and harmony in those new settlements 
which are composed of inhabitants from these bodies. 

"1. It is strictly enjoined on all their missionaries to the new settlements, to 
endeavor, by all proper means, to promote mutual forbearance and accommodation 
between those inhabitants of the new settlements who hold the Presbyterian, and 
those who hold the Congregational form of church government. 

"2. If, in the new settlements, any church of the Congregational order shall 
settle a minister of the Presbyterian order, that church may, if they choose, still 
conduct their discipline according to Congregational principles, settling their diffi- 
culties among themselves, or by a council mutually agreed upon for that purpose ; 
but, if any difficulty shall exist between the minister and the church or any mem- 
ber of it, it shall be referred to the Presbytery to which the minister shall belong, 
provided both parties agree to it ; if not, to a council consisting of an equal num- 
ber of Presbyterians and Congregational ists, agreed upon by both parties. 

"3. If a Presbyterian church shall settle a minister of Congregational princi- 
ples, that church may still conduct their discipline according to Presbyterian prin- 
ciples: excepting that if a difficulty arise between him and his church, or any 
member of it, the cause shall be tried by the Association to which the said minis- 
ter shall belong, provided both parties agree to it ; otherwise by a council, one half 
Congregationalists, and the other half Presbyterians, mutually agreed on by the 
parties. 

" 4. If any congregation consist partly of those who hold the Congregational 
form of discipline, and partly of those who hold the Presbyterian form, we recom- 
mend to both parties, that this be no obstruction to their meeting in one church, 
and settling a minister; and that in this case the church choose a standing com- 
mittee from the communicants of said church, whose business it shall be to call to 
account every member of the church who shall conduct himself inconsistently 
with the- laws of Christianity, and to give judgment on such conduct ; and, if the 
person condemned by their judgment be a Presbyterian, he shall have liberty to 
appeal to the Presbytery : if a Congregational! st, he shall have liberty to appeal to 

15 



226 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



the body of the male communicants of the church ; in the former case, the deter- 
mination of the Presbytery shall be final, unless the church consent to a further 
appeal to the Synod, or to the General Assembly ; and in the latter case, if the 
party condemned shall wish for a trial by a mutual council, the cause shall be re- 
ferred to such council. And, provided the said Standing Committee shall depute 
one of themselves to attend the Presbytery, he may have the same rights to sit and 
act in the Presbytery, as a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church." 

It will be recollected that at this period, not more than five or 
six churches of the Presbyterian order had been formed in Western 
New York, not one of which was connected with any Presbytery. 
The General Assembly, strictly speaking, had no jurisdiction over 
Western New York, not even over a single church. The same 
was true with respect to the General Association. The Ontario 
Association was in existence, with which a few churches were 
connected ; but most of the churches already formed, were in a 
state of entire independence, as it regards jurisdiction. Neither 
of the ecclesiastical bodies had any authority to dictate to the 
inhabitants of the new settlements, how they should organize their 
churches and transact discipline. But they were fully competent 
to instruct the missionaries in their employ ; and the instructions 
contained in the first article of this Plan of Union exhibit the 
wisdom and pious feeling existing in the contracting parties, and 
their earnest desire to promote the prosperity of the churches in 
the new settlements. That the General Assembly had a perfect 
right to enter into such a contract, it is thought no one will deny. 
On the principles of this article the early missionaries acted, much 
to the advancement of the interests of the cause of religion, in the 
region. The second and third articles of the Plan are to be 
considered in the light of advice to ministers and churches under 
peculiar circumstances, which it was peculiarly suitable that the 
contracting parties should give. Nor is it conceived that any 
article in the Constitution of the Presbyterian church forbids a 
Presbyterian minister to exercise the pastoral office in a church not 
connected with a Presbytery ; or prohibits a Presbytery from 
issuing a case of difficulty referred to them, although one of the 
parties at issue did not belong to the Presbyterian Church. It has 
been the case in repeated instances in Western New York, that a 
Presbyterian minister has had the charge of a Congregational 
church, not connected with a Presbytery, nor is it known that any 
evil has accrued from the circumstance. The connexion of a 
Presbyterian minister with a Congregational church has by no 
means been confined to the exscinded Synods. In the year 1837 ? 
eight ministers of the Presbytery of Londonderry, eight of the 
Presbytery of Newburyport, and four of the Presbytery of Charles- 
ton Union, are reported as pastors of Congregational churches. 
With regard to the case of a Congregational minister settled over 
a Presbyterian church, it is the writer's belief that no such case 
ever occurred in Western New York. Instances have often oc- 



THE EXSCINDING ACT. 



227 



curred in which ministers, coming from a Congregational body, 
have settled, as pastors, over a Presbyterian church, but in every 
case, as far as the writer's knowledge extends, the minister has 
become connected with the Presbytery, previous to his installation, 
according to the rules of the Presbyterian Church. 

In the fourth article of the Plan of Union, provision is made for 
the organization of a church, composed partly of Presbyterians 
and partly of Congregationalists, and for its connexion with a 
Presbytery. It is presumed, that, should a member of an old 
school Presbyterian church remove into New England where no 
Presbyterian church existed, the General Assembly would not 
consider it improper for him to connect himself with an orthodox 
Congregational church ; or that it would be a breach of the Con- 
stitution, for the General Assembly to advise him, under the cir- 
cumstances, so to connect himself and enjoy the ordinances of 
Christ's house. We do not then see how it was a violation of the 
Constitution, for the General Assembly to unite with the Associa- 
tion of Connecticut, in advising Presbyterians and Congregation- 
alists, under peculiar circumstances, to unite in the same church 
organization, in such a manner that each might enjoy the privileges 
which he felt to be important to his Christian liberty ; nor do we 
discover anything in the Constitution prohibiting a Presbytery, 
Synod, or the General Assembly, from hearing and issuing an ap- 
peal from the sentence of a standing committee in such a church, 
provided the parties at issue are agreed in the measure. The only 
item in the Plan of Union on which the charge of unconstitutionality 
can be at all sustained, is contained in the last sentence of the 
fourth article, in the words, " And provided the said standing com- 
mittee of any church shall depute one of themselves to attend the 
Presbytery, he may have the same right to sit and act in the 
Presbytery as a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church." By this 
clause the union of a church not strictly Presbyterian is tolerated, 
and a committee-man is received as a ruling elder, circumstances 
concerning which nothing is said in the Constitution of the Presby- 
terian Church. In the Form of Government of the Presbyterian 
Church, Chapter x. Section ii., it is said, " A Presbytery consists 
of all the ministers, and one ruling elder from each congregation 
within a certain district." From this it is pleaded that none but minis- 
ters and ruling elders can be admitted to a seat in the Presbytery. 
The^ admission of a committee-man or delegate from a Congrega- 
tional church which acknowledges the jurisdiction of the Presby- 
tery, seems to be perfectly analogous to the general course of 
treatment of Congregationalists, ever since the existence of a 
Presbyterian church in America. The first Presbytery in America 
was formed by a union of Presbyterians and Congregationalists on 
a liberal plan, as it respects the mode of church government. On 
the same liberal plan, the Presbyterian church practised previous 



228 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



to the formation of a General Assembly in 1789, and down to the 
time of the exscinding act in 1837, the same liberal course was 
pursued by the General Assembly, with the general approbation of 
the church. 

The form of Government, chap. xii. sec. ii., says, " The General 
Assembly shall consist of an equal delegation of bishops and elders 
from each Presbytery," &c, recognising none but clerical and lay 
commissioners, elected by the Presbyteries under the care of the 
General Assembly, as being capable of holding a seat in that body. 
Yet, in 1792, a plan of union and correspondence between the 
General Assembly and the General Association of Connecticut, by 
which three members, appointed by the General Association, were 
to have a seat in the General Assembly, with power to deliberate 
on such matters as should come before the body, was adopted. In 
1794, an alteration in the articles of this union was made, by which 
the delegates from the General Association were empowered to 
vote as well as deliberate on all questions coming before the Assem- 
bly. In 1803, a similar agreement was made with the Convention 
of the State of Vermont, by which one or two delegates from that 
body were received as members of the Assembly, to deliberate, act, 
and vote in all cases as other members ; in 1810, two delegates 
from the General Association of New Hampshire were received 
with the same privilege of deliberating and voting ; and in 1811, by 
a similar agreement, two delegates from the General Association 
of Massachusetts. At subsequent periods, a similar correspondence 
with other ecclesiastical bodies has been established, except that 
the right of voting has, by agreement, been abolished. Now, if the 
letter of the Constitution forbids the admission of a committee-man 
to a seat in the Presbytery, it equally forbids the admission of a 
commissioner not chosen by a Presbytery to a seat in General 
Assembly ; and, if the General Assembly have no constitutional 
right to receive a delegate from a foreign body to vote in the Gene- 
ral Assembly, they have no constitutional right to receive him to 
deliberate and influence the votes of others. If, then, the Plan of 
Union, which had been acted upon thirty-six years with the general 
consent of th^e Presbyterian Church, was unconstitutional, by reason 
of its authorizing a committee-man to have a seat in the Presbytery, 
so that it became the duty of the General Assembly to declare it 
null and void from the beginning ; then it was equally their duty to 
declare all the acts of the previous Assemblies, by which delegates 
from Congregational and other foreign ecclesiastical bodies were 
admitted to seats in the General Assembly, to be from the beginning 
null and void ; and consistency required that, when the members 
belonging to the exscinded Synods were ejected from their seats, 
the delegates from foreign bodies should have been also ejected. It 
may be said, that the Constitution gives to the General Assembly 
the power " of corresponding with foreign churches, on such terms 



THE EXSCINDING ACT. 



229 



as may be agreed upon by the Assembly and the corresponding 
body." If this clause in the Constitution authorizes the Assembly, 
by compact with the General Association of Connecticut, to admit 
delegates from that body to a seat in the Assembly, we see not why 
it does not equally authorize them, by compact with the same body, 
to admit committee-men to seats in the Presbytery. 

The General Assembly assert, in the exscinding resolution, that 
the Synods of Utica, Geneva, and Genesee were formed and at- 
tached to the General Assembly, under and in execution of the 
Flan of Union of 1801. These Synods were formed in just the 
same manner as every other Synod since the original organization 
of a General Assembly in the Presbyterian Church, that is, they 
were constituted by act of the General Assembly, detaching certain 
named Presbyteries from the Synod to which they belonged, and 
constituting them a new Synod, with definite boundaries. In the 
act of constitution, no allusion is made to any Plan of Union, nor 
to any other circumstance, except an application from the Synod 
divided. In 1812, the Synod of Albany was divided, and the 
General Assembly resolved, " That the Presbyteries of Onondaga, 
Cayuga, and Geneva, form the western division, and be constituted 
a Synod, to be called' and known by the name of the Synod of 
Genesee, and that they hold their first meeting in the first 'Presby- 
terian church in Geneva, on the first Wednesday in October next, 
at eleven o'clock, A. M., and that the meeting be opened with a ser- 
mon by the Rev. David Higgins, and, in case of his absence, then 
by the oldest minister present." In compliance with this order of 
the Assembly, the Synod met at the time and place appointed, the 
meeting was opened in the manner directed in the order, and Mr. 
Higgins was elected the first moderator. In a similar manner the 
Synods of Utica and Genesee were constituted, the former being 
detached from the Synod of Albany, and the latter from the Synod 
of Geneva. 

If inquiry is made, how the Presbyteries composing these Synods 
were constituted, the answer is at hand. The Presbytery of Oneida, 
from which they all originated, was constituted in 1802, in accor- 
dance with the order of the General Assembly, directing " That so 
much of the Presbytery of Albany as lies on the west side of the 
eastern line of the counties of Otsego and Herkimer, including the 
Rev. Messrs. Fish, Lindsley, Dodd, Lewis, and Mr. Chapman, late 
of the Presbytery of New York, and Mr. Snowden, late of the 
Presbytery of New Brunswick, be constituted a Presbytery by the 
name of The Presbytery of Oneida. The Presbytery of Geneva 
was the next in the order of origin. This Presbytery was consti- 
tuted in 1803, by an order of the Assembly, directing " That so 
much of the existing Presbytery of Oneida, as lies on the west 
side of the western line of the counties of Chenango and Oneida, 
including the Rev. Messrs. Jedidiah Chapman, John Lindsley, 



230 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Samuel Leacock, and Jabez Chadwick, be constituted a Presbytery 
by the name of The Presbytery of Geneva." The Presbytery of 
Chenango was also constituted by an act of the General Assembly^ 
because it was composed of members belonging to different Synods* 
In 1808, the Middle Association, as has already been narrated in 
chapter vii., was received as a constituent member of. the Synod 
of Albany, with the full approbation of the General Assembly. 
From this Association and the Presbytery of Geneva, in 1810, were 
formed, by an act of the Synod of Albany, the Presbyteries of 
Geneva, Cayuga, and Onondaga, with territorial limits. All the 
other Presbyteries belonging to the two Synods of Western New 
York, were constituted with definite boundaries, as directed by the 
Constitution, by the action of the Synods to which the Presbyteries 
from which they were detached, belonged. 

But it may be said that the churches, of which these Synods 
and Presbyteries were composed, were organized in accordance 
with the Plan of Union, and that committee-men held seats in these 
ecclesiastical bodies, and deliberated and voted with the other 
members, and, therefore, it may with propriety be said, that they 
were formed and attached to the General Assembly, under and in 
execution of said Plan of Union. Somewhere about the year 1805 
or 1806, the first Presbyterian church of Geneseo (now the church 
of Lakeville), which was originally constituted a Presbyterian 
church, changed its form of government so far as to adopt that re- 
commended in the Plan of Union. The church, however, did not 
long continue on this plan. The Presbyterian and Congregational 
members were not harmonious, and after a short season the Con- 
gregational members were, by advice of the Presbytery, dismissed,, 
and organized by themselves as a Congregational church. The 
other branch of - the church reverted to their original order as 
a Presbyterian church. The writer has been informed that one or 
two other churches in Western New York were formed on this 
Plan of Union, and, perhaps, there may be a very small number, at 
the present time, on a plan of organization nearly resembling this, 
which are in connexion with a Presbytery. He has been a resident 
of Western New York from the period of 1801 down to the pre- 
sent time. During that period he has been engaged in the duties 
of the ministerial office, and is minutely acquainted with the 
ecclesiastical history of the region, and it is his firm belief that, at 
the time of the exscinding act in 1837, not more than one or two, if 
any, of the churches under the care of the Synods of Geneva and 
Genesee, were practising in accordance with the provisions of the 
Plan of Union of 1801. With regard to the state of things in the 
Synod of Utica, the writer is not informed, but supposes that it 
was very similar to that in the other Synods. The abrogation of 
the Plan of Union of 1801, by the Assembly of 1837, whether it 
was a wise measure or otherwise, could not possibly have any 



THE EXSCINDING ACT. 



231 



effect on the standing of the Synods, of Western New York with 
the Presbyterian Church in the United States. They never were 
formed under this Plan, nor by virtue of it attached to the Presby- 
terian Church. 

But it may be asked, " Is it possible that the General Assembly of 
1537, a body so large, so learned, so wise and pious, in which the vene- 
rable Dr. Green, Dr. Alexander, and a host of others, were active spi- 
rits, could predicate, on such mistaken grounds, an act, by which three 
Synods, containing nineteen Presbyteries, three hundred and seventy- 
eight ministers, four hundred and forty-four churches, and, probably, 
forty thousand communicants, were ejected from their connexion with 
the Presbyterian Church ?" It is not only possible, but it is undoubtedly 
certain that this was the case. In the list of names votingin favor of the 
exscinding act, we find that of Dr. Green of Philadelphia, and many 
others of high standing in the Presbyterian Church, and of distinguish- 
ed excellence. These brethren and fathers, no doubt, honestly be- 
lieved that they were doing God service, and promoting the interests 
of the church of Christ in the world. The name of Dr. Alexander 
does not appear on the list of voters on the question. What part 
he took in the debate, or whether any, is not known to the writer. 

The attentive reader who wishes to understand this subject, will, 
no doubt, desire to be informed of the circumstances of the churches 
in Western New York which led the Assembly of 1837 into the 
supposition that they were attached to the Presbyterian Church by 
virtue of the Plan of Union of 1801. The Oneida Presbytery, as 
has been stated, was, by act of the General Assembly, set off from 
the Presbytery of Albany. It was composed wholly of ministers 
and churches strictly Presbyterian. The same was the case with 
the Presbytery of Geneva, set off from the Presbytery of Oneida 
by the General Assembly. Up to the period of 1808, no church 
not strictly Presbyterian, in Western New York, was connected 
with any Presbytery, if we except the case of the church of 
Geneseo, before mentioned. In 1808, the Middle Association, as 
has been already related, became a constituent member of the 
Synod of Albany, by virtue of a compact with that Synod, ratified 
by the General Assembly. By this union a number of Congrega- 
tional churches became connected with the Presbyterian Church, 
with the right of being represented by a delegate in the meetings 
of Synod. This act of the Assembly, ratifying the compact between 
the Synod and the Association, was considered as establishing the 
principle that Congregational churches might become connected 
with the Presbyterian Church, and have a seat in its judicatories 
by a delegate, retaining the privilege of transacting their internal 
government by the vote of the majority of the brethren. On this 
principle the Presbyteries have acted. By the formation of these 
Presbyteries out of the Presbytery of Geneva and the Middle As- 
sociation, the majority of the churches in the Presbyteries of Onon- 



232 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



daga and Cayuga were probably Congregational. Those at that 
time connected with the Presbytery of Geneva were all of them 
strictly Presbyterian. After the dissolution of the Ontario Associa- 
tion, most of the churches which had been connected with that 
ecclesiastical body attached themselves to the Presbytery of Gene- 
va, on what was familiarly called " The Accommodating Plan." 
Many of the churches, however, which were originally Congrega- 
tional, adopted the Presbyterian form, and far the greater part of 
the new-formed churches were organized in accordance with the 
strict principles of the Presbyterian Church. All the churches 
connected with the Presbyteries acknowledged the supremacy of 
the Presbytery, made their regular reports, admitted an appeal 
from their decisions to the Presbytery, sent up their records annu- 
ally for review, and were represented in Presbytery by a delegate 
chosen for the purpose, who was entitled to the same privileges as 
a ruling elder. How large a proportion of the churches under the 
care of the Synods of Geneva and Genesee, were connected with 
the Presbyteries, on the Accommodating Plan, is not definitely 
known to the writer. It must, however, have been comparatively 
small. In the Presbyteries of Angelica and Chemung, all the 
churches were governed by a session of elders. The same may 
have been the case with one or two other Presbyteries. The 
Presbytery of Bath had under its care two churches practising on 
the Accommodating Plan ; the Presbytery of Geneva had one or 
two of the same description. Other Presbyteries had a larger 
number, and it may be that one or two Presbyteries had a major- 
ity of its churches of this description. If the connexion of these 
churches with the Synods of Utica, Geneva, and Genesee, demanded 
that they should be declared out of the ecclesiastical connexion of 
the Presbyterian Church, the same step ought to have been taken 
with the Synods of Albany, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Michigan, 
and, it is believed, some others, which were in the same predi- 
cament. 

The General Assembly state, as a reason urging immediate ac- 
tion in passing the exscinding act, " the gross disorders which are 
ascertained to have prevailed in those Synods" meaning the Synods 
of Utica, Geneva, and Genesee. If by gross disorders, is meant 
that they received under their care churches which managed their 
internal concerns on the congregational plan, and admitted the dele- 
gates of these churches to sit in their judicature, and vote with the 
other members, it was nothing of new occurrence, nor respecting 
which the knowledge of the fact had just met the minds of the 
Assembly. It is hardly supposable that the Assembly refer to this 
circumstance when they speak of gross disorders. The commis- 
sioners from the exscinded Synods, in their protest against the act, 
give as one of their reasons of protest, " that there has been no 
definite or authentic evidence whatever, regularly before this As- 



THE EXSCINDING ACT. 



233 



sembly, of the existence, within the bounds of the said Synods, 
of those errors in doctrine, or those gross irregularities in practice, 
which they are alleged to be guilty of tolerating." In their answer 
to this protest, the Assembly say, — " The evidence of great errors 
in doctrine, and gross irregularities in practice, prevailing to an 
alarming extent within the bounds of said Synods, and, if not coun- 
tenanced, certainly unsuppressed by them, is before the church and 
the world." It is evident from these extracts from the Circular 
Letter of the General Assembly, published in their minutes for 1837, 
and from the debates in the Assembly, that by the " gross disorders," 
which, they say. are ascertained to have prevailed, they refer to 
the proceedings of certain evangelists and others, in exciting and 
conducting protracted meetings and revivals of religion. On this 
subject we have spoken largely, in a former chapter. 

On "the great errors in doctrine." prevailing to an alarming: 
extent, as is asserted, it may be proper to make some observations. 
It is not to be expected in this imperfect world that any consider- 
able number of Christians will entertain views precisely alike, on 
all subjects which relate to religious truth. All do not understand 
the teaching of the Scriptures alike ; neither is there an entire 
agreement among Presbyterians, as to what is taught in the Con- 
fession of Faith and Catechisms of the Presbyterian Church. If 
perfect agreement in sentiment were essential to church fellowship, 
no church could exist upon earth. As there are shades of difference 
in the views of Christians respecting what is truth, so there are 
different opinions respecting what constitutes essential truth, or the 
truths in which it is essential that Christians should be agreed, in 
order to their composing one church. One person would denomi- 
nate a certain sentiment a " great error." while another, believing 
it an error, might however consider it of comparatively little con- 
sequence. Some Presbyterians of the old school would consider 
it as a great error, to maintain, that "impenitent sinners have any 
ability of any kind to do anything which God requires," or "that 
God may not, with perfect consistency, require the sinner to do, and 
pnnish him for not doing, all holy acts, when he has no ability of 
any kind to do them." Many of them, probably, consider it a great 
error to maintain, — that the atonement of Christ was made for any 
but the elect. What is meant by the assertion that great "'errors 
in doctrine" prevailed to an alarming degree in the exscinded Synods, 
is somewhat vague. The Assembly must, however, be supposed 
to allude to the errors condemned by them at that meeting. Pre- 
vious to the meeting of the Assembly a Convention of ministers and 
elders was held at Philadelphia, professedly for the purpose of 
devising and submitting to the consideration of the next General 
Assembly remedies for existing evils. This convention submitted 
to the iissembly a document, which, on the minutes of the Assem- 
bly, is denominated a " Testimony and Memorial of the Convention 



234 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



in relation to errors and irregularities in the Presbyterian Church." 
That part of the memorial which related to doctrinal errors (with 
a few verbal alterations) was adopted by the Assembly. The 
errors condemned are the following, viz. 

" 1. That God would have prevented the existence of sin in our world, but was 
not able without destroying the moral agency of man : or, that for aught that 
appears in the Bible to the contrary, sin is incidental to any wise moral system." 

" 2. That election to eternal life is founded on a foresight of faith and obedi- 
ence." 

" 3. That we have no more to do with the first sin of Adam than with the sins 
of any other parent." 

"4. That infants come into the world as free from moral defilement as was 
Adam when he was created." 

"5. That infants sustain the same relation to the moral government of God in 
this world, as brute animals, and that their sufferings and death are to be ac- 
counted for on the same principle as those of brutes, and not by any means to be 
considered as penal." 

" 6. That there is no other original sin than the fact that all the posterity of 
Adam, though by nature innocent, or possessed of no moral character, will always 
begin to sin when they begin to exercise moral agency; that original sin does not 
include a sinful bias of the human mind, and a just exposure to penal suffering; 
and that there is no evidence in Scripture, that infants, in order to salvation, do 
need redemption by the blood of Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Ghost." 

"7. That the doctrine of imputation, whether of the guilt of Adam's sin, or of 
the righteousness of Christ, has no foundation in the Word of God, and is both 
unjust and absurd." 

" 8. That the sufferings and death of Christ were not truly vicarious and penal, 
but symbolical, governmental, and instructive only." 

" 9. That the impenitent sinner is by nature, and independently of the re- 
newing influence or almighty energy of the Holy Spirit, in full possession 
of all the ability necessary to a full compliance with all the commands of 
God." 

" 10. That Christ does not intercede for the elect until after their regenera- 
tion." 

"11. That saving faith is not an effect of the special operation of the Holy 
Spirit, but a mere rational belief of the truth, or assent to the Word of God." 

" 12. That regeneration is the act of the sinner himself, and that it consists in 
a change of his governing purpose, which he himself must produce, and which is 
the result, not of any direct influence of the Holy Spirit on the heart, but chiefly 
of a persuasive exhibition of the truth, analogous to the influence which one man 
exerts over the mind of another ; or that regeneration is not an instantaneous 
act, but a progressive work." 

" 13. That God has done all that he can do for the salvation of all men, and 
that man himself must do the rest." 

" 14. That God cannot exert such influence on the minds of men, as shall make 
it certain that they will choose and act in a particular manner without impairing 
their moral agency." 

" 15. That the righteousness of Christ is not the sole ground of the sinner's 
acceptance with God; and that in no sense does the righteousness of Christ be- 
come ours." 

" 16. That the reason why some differ from others in regard to their reception 
of the gospel, is that they make themselves to differ." 

These propositions were condemned, as errors, more or less 
prevalent in the church. It was undoubtedly the intention of the 



THE EXSCINDING ACT. 



235 



Assembly to charge them upon the ministers and churches of 
Western New York. With respect to some of the sentiments 
embraced in these propositions, the writer has no consciousness 
that they have ever been advanced by any minister of the Presby- 
terian church in Western New York, or have had any prevalence 
in the churches. Some of them seem to be " propositions wholly 
of a metaphysical character," as the brethren who protested against 
the adoption of the memorial say, " and on points by no means 
clearly and positively settled, either in our standards or in the 
sacred Scriptures." At least, they are capable of an explanation 
not at variance with the Word of God. In their most natural 
sense, they are undoubtedly errors, and some of them, at least, 
errors of a very dangerous tendency, and which ought to be dis- 
countenanced by every judicatory of the church of Christ. That they 
were advanced, and that strenuous endeavors were used to propa- 
gate them in Western New York, is undoubtedly true. But, in 
general, it was by teachers over whom the Presbyteries had no 
control, and for whose teachings they were no more responsible 
than for the teachings of the Roman Catholic clergy who might 
itinerate among them ; or, if they were advanced by ministers who 
were members of the Presbyteries, it was under circumstances in 
which it would be exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to make 
the discipline of the church to bear upon the offender. At sub- 
sequent periods, several of the ministers have either been deposed 
from the ministry for error, or been constrained to leave the Pres- 
byterian church. 

The judicatories of the church in Western New York have 
repeatedly and strongly testified against error in doctrine, and in 
practice, which individuals among themselves, or foreigners from 
abroad, have attempted to introduce. The Synod of Geneva, in 
1832, adopted the following Minute, viz. "On reviewing the 
history of the church for a few years past, the Synod recollect 
with gratitude the interest which has been manifested with regard 
to the character and work 6f the Holy Spirit. This subject early 
engaged the attention of Christians, both in Europe and America. 
It awakened feelings which were manifested in religious publica- 
tions, in public preaching, in prayer, and in conversation. The 
results, as the Synod believe, have been seen in the extensive and 
glorious revivals which have been lately experienced in the churches. 
As the necessary means of the same blessed results, the Synod 
earnestly recommend to all the ministers belonging to this body, in 
their public discourses, their studies, their closets, and their con- 
versation, so to acknowledge the Holy Spirit, as to give him the 
honor of being the efficient agent in the renewal and sanctification 
of the soul. They would also recommend to the churches an 
explicit and heart-felt acknowledgment of their dependence on 
the special influences of the Holy Spirit, in all their efforts to do 



236 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



good, and that they pray earnestly for these influences upon them- 
selves and others." The testimony of the Synod, in 1835, against 
the Central Evangelical Association, recorded on a preceding page, 
is strongly impressive of the high regard which they entertained 
for correctness in doctrine, as well as practice. In 1837, in refer- 
ence to the act of the Assembly declaring them not a part of the 
Presbyterian church, they say, " The errors and irregularities, 
alleged to have prevailed in this Synod, which appear to have had 
an influence in producing the act of excision, have never been 
countenanced by this Synod ; but, w T herever they have been known 
to exist, have been solemnly disapproved, and, by every constitu- 
tional method, resisted and corrected." In 1841, in their pastoral 
letter, the Synod say, " We feel that we cannot too earnestly 
inculcate upon our churches the importance of maintaining invio- 
late the distinguishing doctrines of grace, which constitute the 
glory and value of the gospel, and which are so admirably epito- 
mized, for convenient reference and study, in our excellent Cate- 
chisms and Confession of Faith. Encourage, invite, yea, demand, 
brethren, that these God-exalting and man-humbling doctrines of 
the cross become a part of ministerial instruction. Hold fast to 
them, and hold to them sincerely in that form of sound words in 
which the Bible presents them, and which has been so faithfully 
presented in our standards. Have no fellowship with those who 
teach cardinal errors, the commandments of men instead of the 
doctrines of God. We are happy to believe that the doctrine of 
Oberlin perfection, which has found its way into some churches 
of our denomination, has as yet received but little, if any, counte- 
nance from you, and we affectionately warn you against it, as a 
pernicious heresy, the tendency of which is, to cherish a spirit of 
self-righteousness, and prevent your pressing towards the mark for 
the prize of your high calling, by inducing the false idea that you 
have already attained." 

The Synod of Genesee, in 1837, record on their minutes : " We 
feel constrained to renewedly avow our unwavering attachment to 
the doctrines and discipline of the Presbyterian Church, notwith- 
standing the suspicions which have been extensively and industri- 
ously circulated against us. We are free to say that we have no 
sympathy with the doctrines against which the last Assembly pro- 
tested, and we believe that no man who receives them can honestly 
remain in the ministry and communion of our church." In 1840, 
the Synod passed the following resolutions, viz. "Resolved, by the 
Synod of Genesee, that the doctrine that sinless perfection is attained 
or actually possessed by any in this life, is a dangerous error, con- 
trary to the Word of God, and opposed to the standards of the 
Presbyterian Church." 

" Resolved, that any attempts by Presbyteries, ministers, or church 
members, to introduce these errors into our churches, while profess- 



THE EXSCINDING ACT. 



237 



ing the Presbyterian standards, are contrary to good faith and 
Christian morality ; and those embracing these errors, and espe- 
cially ministers of the gospel, if any are found within our limits, are 
bound by every manly, honorable, and Christian feeling, to with- 
draw from the Presbyterian Church, and failing to do this, we re- 
commend the commencement of discipline in the Presbyteries and 
churches, according to the constitution, as the only means to pre- 
serve our denominational integrity." 

The Presbytery of Buffalo, on their minutes, under date of Feb- 
ruary, 1837, say, " The great doctrines of grace, as held by 
Edwards, Bellamy, and Dwight, are uniformly received, and God 
has condescended to honor his truth by constant effusions of the 
Holy Spirit upon the people, over whom we have charge." In 
July of the same year, in animadverting on the exscinding act of the 
General Assembly, they say, " The insinuations on the floor of the 
General Assembly, that unsoundness in doctrine, and disorder in 
discipline, were prevalent in the Presbyteries of New York, are not 
true in relation to the Presbytery of Buffalo. We have ever 
cherished a sincere attachment to the doctrines and discipline of the 
Presbyterian Church. We hold to its Confession of Faith ; we 
preach the doctrines which it teaches from our pulpits ; we have 
administered its discipline, and maintained its order ; and we claim 
it as a right not denied to the meanest and most degraded, to be 
heard and tried before we are condemned and executed." Similar 
testimonies might be adduced from the records of the other Pres- 
byteries, were it needful. 

The state of doctrinal sentiment in the Presbyterian Church in 
Western New York, and in the " new school" Presbyterian Church 
at large, is, perhaps, as fully exhibited in the Report of the Com- 
mittee on Doctrine, in the Minutes of the Auburn Convention, held 
at Auburn, August 17, 1837, for the purpose of consultation and 
advice on the subject of the action of the General Assembly, in 
May preceding. The report of the committee, as adopted by the 
Convention, says, " Whereas it is declared in the ' Circular Letter ' 
of the late General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, ' to all 
the churches of Jesus Christ,' that ' very serious ' and ' alarming 
errors and disorders ' have long prevailed in the bounds of the ex- 
scinding Synods and other portions of the church, and as the late 
Assembly appears to have been influenced in deciding on the case 
of these Synods, by these alleged errors and disorders : There- 
fore, 

" 1. Resolved, That while we bear in mind that, with the excite- 
ment of extensive revivals, indiscretions are sometimes inter- 
mingled, and that in the attempt to avoid a ruinous practical 
Antinomianism, human obligation is sometimes urged in a matter 
that favors Arminian errors, yet we are bound to declare that sue 
errors and irregularities have never been sanctioned by these 



238 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Synods or Presbyteries, that the prejudice has in a great degree 
arisen from censorious and exaggerated statements, and from the 
conduct of persons not in connexion with the Presbyterian 
Church ; that all such departures from the sound doctrine or 
order of the Presbyterian Church, we solemnly disprove, and, 
when known, deem it our duty to correct by every constitutional 
method. 

" 2. Resolved, That, as the declaration of the religious sentiments 
of the Synods and Presbyteries whom we represent, we cordially 
embrace the Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church, ' as 
containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures,' 
as understood by the Church ever since the Adopting Act of 1729, 
viz. ' And in case any minister of the Synod, or any candidate for 
the ministry, shall have any scruple with respect to any article or 
articles of said Confession, he shall, in time of making said declara- 
tion, declare his scruples to the Synod or Presbytery, who shall, 
notwithstanding, admit him to the exercise of the ministry within 
our bounds, and to ministerial communion, if the Synod or Presby- 
tery shall judge his scruples not essential or necessary in doctrine, 
worship, or government? 

" 3. Resolved, That in accordance with the above declaration, 
and also to meet the charges contained in the before-mentioned 
circular, and other published documents of the late General Assem- 
bly, this Convention cordially disapprove and condemn the list of 
errors condemned by the late General Assembly, and adopt, as the 
expression of their own sentiments, and, as they believe, the preva- 
lent sentiments of the churches of these Synods on the points in 
question, the list of ' true doctrines ' adopted by the minority of the 
said Assembly in their ' Protest ' on this subject, as follows, viz. 

"TRUE DOCTRINE. 

" l. God permitted the introduction of sin, not because he was unable to pre- 
vent it, consistently with the moral freedom of his creatures, but for wise and 
benevolent reasons which he has not revealed. 

" 2. Election to eternal life is not founded on a foresight of faith and obedi- 
ence, but is a sovereign act of God's mercy, whereby, according to the counsel 
of his own will, he has chosen some to salvation ; ' yet so as thereby neither is 
violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of 
second causes taken away, but rather established nor does this gracious pur- 
pose ever take effect independently of faith and a holy life. 

" 3. By a divine constitution, Adam was so the head and representative of 
his race, that, as a consequence of his transgression, all mankind become morally 
corrupt, and liable to death, temporal and eternal. 

" 4. Adam was created in the image of God, endowed with knowledge, right- 
eousness, and true holiness. Infants come into the world, not only destitute of 
these, but with a nature inclined to evil, and only evil. 

" 5. Brute animals sustain no such relation to the moral government of God as 
does the human family. Infants are a part of the human family, and their suffer- 
ings and death are to be accounted for on the ground of their being involved in 
the general moral ruin of the race induced by the apostasy. 



THE EXSCINDING ACT. 



239 



" 6. Original sin is a natural bias to evil, resulting from the first apostasy, 
leading invariably and certainly to actual transgression. And all infants, as well 
as adults, in order to be saved, need redemption by the blood of Christ, and 
regeneration by the Holy Ghost. 

" 7. The sin of Adam is not imputed to his posterity in the sense of a literal 
transfer of personal qualities, acts, and demerit ; but by reason of the sin of 
Adam, in his peculiar relation, the race are treated as if they had sinned. Nor is 
the righteousness of Christ imputed to his people in the sense of a literal 
transfer of personal qualities, acts, and merit ; but by reason of his righteous- 
ness, in his peculiar relation, they are treated as if they were righteous. 

" 8. The sufferings and death of Christ were not symbolical, governmental, 
and instructive only, but were truly vicarious, i. e. a substitute for the punish- 
ment due to transgressors. And while Christ did not surfer the literal penalty 
of the law, involving remorse of conscience and the pains of hell, he did offer a 
sacrifice which infinite wisdom saw to be a full equivalent ; and by virtue of this 
atonement, overtures of mercy are sincerely made to the race, and salvation 
secured to all who believe. 

" 9. While sinners have all the faculties necessary to a perfect moral agency 
and a just accountability, such is their love of sin, and opposition to God and 
his law, that, independently of the renewing influence or almighty energy of the 
Holy Spirit, they never will comply with the commands of God. 

" 10. The intercession of Christ for the elect is previous, as well as subsequent, 
to their regeneration, as appears from the following scripture, viz. ' / pray not 
for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine. Neither 
pray lfor these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.'' 

"11. Saving faith is an intelligent and cordial assent to the testimony of God 
concerning his Son, implying reliance on Christ alone for pardon and eternal 
life ; and in all cases it is an effect of the special operations of the Holy Spirit. 

" 12. Regeneration is a radical change of heart, produced by the special 
operation of the Holy Spirit, ' determining the sinner to that which is good,' and 
is in all cases instantaneous. 

" 13. While repentance for sin and faith in Christ are indispensable to salva- 
tion, all who are saved are indebted, from first to last, to the grace and Spirit of 
God. And the reason that God does not save all, is not that he wants the power 
to do it, but that in his wisdom he does not see fit to exert that power further 
than he actually does. 

" 14. While the liberty of the will is not impaired, nor the established 
connexion betwixt means and ends broken by any action of God on the mind, he 
can influence it according to his pleasure, and does effectually determine it to 
good, in all cases of true conversion. 

" 15. All believers are justified, not on the grounds of personal merit, but 
solely on the ground of the obedience and death, or, in other words, the right- 
eousness of Christ. And while that righteousness does not become theirs, in 
the sense of a literal transfer of personal qualities and merit ; yet, from respect 
to it, God can and does treat them as if they were righteous. 

" 16. While all such as reject the gospel of Christ, do it, not by coercion, but 
freely, and all who embrace it, do it, not by coercion, but freely, the reason why 
some differ from others is, that God has made them to differ. 

" In further illustration of the doctrines prevalent in these sections of the 
church, the Convention declare that the authors whose exposition and defence of 
the articles of our faith are most approved and used in these Synods, are Presi- 
dent Edwards, Witherspoon, and Dwight, Dr. Smalley, and Andrew Fuller, and 
the Commentators, Henry, Doddridge, and Scott." 

Perhaps no better exhibition of the doctrinal views of the minis- 
ters and churches of the Presbyterian order in Western New 



240 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



York can be given, than is furnished in this expose made by the 
Auburn convention. Entire uniformity did not exist. The same 
shades of difference existed between the ministers and the church- 
es, as w r ere to be found in other parts of the Presbyterian church, 
and among the Orthodox Congregational churches of New Eng- 
land, with which the General Assembly holds correspondence. 
There were some who were strongly tinctured with the peculiar 
sentiments of Dr. Hopkins ; some sympathized in sentiment with 
Dr. Emmons ; others favored the theological views of what has 
been called the " New-Haven School ;" a few leaned to what has 
since been denominated " Oberlinism ;" while all, or nearly all, 
regarded Edwards, Witherspoon, Bellamy, Dwight, Smalley, the 
elder Spring, Strong, and others of that stamp, as having been 
burning and shining lights in the church. 



241 



CHAPTER XIX. 

The Subject continued. The real Reasons for the Exscinding Act, Difference in Doc- 
trinal Views, Difference in Judgment, how to conduct the Benevolent Operations of 
the Church. Determination of the Old School Party to secure a Majority in the 
Assembly. Measures adopted. Plan of Union abrogated : Committee of Ten, and 
their Report: Excision of the Synod of the Western Reserve : Declaration against 
the American Home Missionary Society, and American Education Society. Ex- 
cision of the Synods of Utica, Geneva, and Genesee. Dissolution of the Third 
Presbytery of Philadelphia. Organization of a Board of Foreign Missions. Testi- 
mony against Doctrinal Errors Order to the Synods of Albany, New Jersey, 
Michigan, Cincinnati, and Illinois. State of feeling produced in Western New 
York in view of the Exscinding Act". Fourth Resolution of the Assembly, how 
understood. Strictures on this Resolution. Attempt of the General Association of 
New York to divide the Churches ; these attempts abortive. Auburn Convention, 
Resolutions passed, Committees appointed, and their Reports ; unanimity of the Con- 
vention. Results of the Meeting. Commissioners of the Exscinded Presbyteries 
attend the Meeting of the General Assembly of 1838 : their Commissions rejected. 
Assembly organized. Statistics of the New School Presbyterian Church : Statistics 
of the Old School Presbyterian Church in Western New York. Formation of Pres- 
byteries and a Synod. Increase of the New School Church in Western New York. 

To the reader, who attentively considers the circumstances and 
character of the Presbyterian Churches in Western New York, it 
may be a matter of inquiry, " What was the real ground of the 
exscinding act of the General Assembly of 1837?" No doubt the 
rigid Presbyterians of the Old School felt that the entire system of 
Presbyterian Government in the church was highly important, and, 
in the estimation of some, nearly indispensable to the existence of a 
well organized church. That churches without a bench of ruling 
elders should be permitted to have a standing in their connexion, 
, and have a voice in the government of the church, was viewed 
by them as a circumstance replete with danger, especially as emi- 
grants from the New England States where the system of Con- 
gregationalism prevailed, were pouring into the western wilds in 
such immense numbers. They undoubtedly feared that their whole 
system of church order would be overturned, unless a stop was put 
to this state of things. Such a fear is distinctly acknowledged in 
the circular letter of the General Assembly of 1837. There was 
also a difference in the theological views of the Old School and the 
New School ; or, perhaps, it would be more correct to say, in their 
systems of Mental Philosophy. In the Assembly's testimony 
against error in doctrine, they seem to have supposed that these 
errors were extensively held by the brethren of the New School. 
If such was their supposition, they were greatly in error. Those 
who voted in the negative, on the resolution to condemn these errors, 

16 



242 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



so voted because the resolution asserted, that these errors were 
prevalent in the church. In their protest against the act of the 
Assembly, they distinctly acknowledge them as errors, in the com- 
mon understanding of the terms used, and they state what they 
denominate the " true doctrine" on the subjects to which they relate. 
This statement of true doctrine was adopted by the Auburn Con- 
vention, as the expression of their own sentiments, and as, accord- 
ing to their belief, the prevalent sentiments of the churches con- 
nected with the exscinding Synods, and it is contained in the sixteen 
propositions given in the preceding chapter. When the protest 
containing this statement of true doctrine was presented to the 
Assembly, Rev. William S. Plumer, of the Presbytery of East 
Hanover, offered the following resolution, which was adopted, viz. 

" Resolved, That duly certified copies of this paper be sent to the 
respective Presbyteries to which the signers of the protest belong, 
calling their attention to the developments of theological views con- 
tained in it, and enjoining it on them to inquire into the soundness 
of the faith of those who have ventured to make so strange avowals 
as some of these are." 

This resolution shows that, in the estimation of Mr. Plumer and 
the Old School part of the Assembly, these propositions, denomi- 
nated true doctrines by the Protestants, and adopted as such by 
the Auburn Convention, contained strange avowals, and of so sus- 
picious a character as to demand an investigation into the soundness 
of the faith of the individuals, whose names were affixed to it. We 
are not informed which of the propositions contain the strange and 
suspicious avowals ; but the resolution, in connexion with the pro- 
test, is conclusive evidence that the Old and New School parties 
in the Presbyterian Church were not harmonious in their doctrinal 
views on all theological questions. This difference of theological 
opinion was viewed by the Old School party as very material, and 
inconsistent with the union of both parties in one church organi- 
zation. The New School party considered it as referring to matters 
of minor consequence, and as by no means a hindrance to a cor- 
dial union of the parties in the same church. 

On the manner of conducting the benevolent operations of the 
day, there was a difference in judgment and in practice between 
the Old and New Schools in the Presbyterian Church. The mi- 
nisters and churches of the New School party had, from the begin- 
ning, generally contributed to the funds of the American Board of 
Commissioners for Foreign Missions. They felt a strong attach- 
ment to this Board, had assisted and co-operated in sending out the 
missionaries, and felt themselves sacredly bound to sustain them in 
their arduous work. They were attached to the American Edu- 
cation Society, which was engaged in the support of indigent pious 
young men in their preparation for the ministerial office. They 
approved of the American Home Missionary Society, and gave the 



THE EXSCINDING ACT. 



243 



principal part of their collection for Home Missions to its funds. 
These institutions acted on liberal principles. In the appointment 
of missionaries, and selection of beneficiaries, no inquiry was made 
whether they belonged to the Congregational, the Presbyterian, or 
the Reformed Dutch church. The missionaries were taken indis- 
criminately from these denominations, and continued their ecclesi- 
astical relation to the judicatory with which they had been con- 
nected. The Old School party in the Presbyterian church would 
have all these concerns, so far as that church was engaged in them, 
under the direct supervision of the General Assembly, managed by 
Boards of their appointment, and directly responsible to the Assem- 
bly. The missionaries employed must be members of the Presby- 
terian church ; and the churches which might be formed by them 
from converts among the heathen, or of Christians in the new set- 
tlements, must be strictly Presbyterian churches. The beneficia- 
ries, supported by the funds for education purposes, must be mem- 
bers of a Presbyterian church, educated in a Presbyterian Seminary, 
with the expectation that, when educated, they would be ministers o£ 
the Presbyterian church. 

The different views entertained on those subjects by the Old and 
New School parties in the Presbyterian church, had, for several years, 
been an occasion of jealousies, and a ground of animosities, in meet- 
ings of the General Assembly. The New School party, which scarce- 
ly had an existence a few years ago, had grown to a large body, and 
powerful from intellect and character. It was even doubtful which 
party constituted the majority. At several times the New School 
party had the ascendency in the Assembly. This was particularly 
the case at the meeting of the Assembly in Pittsburgh, in 1836. 
At that meeting several important subjects were decided, which 
brought the parties into strong collision with each other. The ap- 
peal of Rev. Albert Barnes from the sentence of the Synod of 
Philadelphia, suspending him from the performance of the functions 
of the gospel ministry, on a charge of heresy, brought against him 
by Rev. George Junkiu, D.D., was tried, and Mr. Barnes, by a 
strong vote, was restored to his ministerial standing, with no con- 
demnation passed upon any of his sentiments. The Assembly also 
rejected the proposition for a transfer of the Western Foreign Mis- 
sionary Society to the General Assembly, and the organization of a 
Board of Foreign Missions. These decisions were borne very re- 
luctantly by the rigid Old School members, and undoubtedly pre- 
pared the way for the proceedings of 1837. Leading members of 
the Old School party declared that a division of the church would 
be effected at the next meeting of the General Assembly. There 
can be no doubt that the leading members of that party came to 
the meeting of 1837, with the determination, in case they had a 
majority of the votes of the Assembly, to effect a division m some 
way or other. 



244 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



On the opening of the Assembly of 1837, it appeared that the 
Old School party had a decided majority in the house, and it is 
evident that they were determined on taking such measures as to 
secure them a majority in all time to corre. As the first step 
towards a radical reformation in the church, the " Plan of Union " 
of 1801 was abrogated, as unconstitutional. The next step was, 
to pass a resolution to cite to the bar of the next Assembly, such 
inferior judicatories as were charged by common fame with irregu- 
larities, and to exclude the members of those judicatories from a 
seat in the next Assembly, until their case should be decided. The 
Assembly then appointed a committee of ten on the state of the 
church, of whom five were taken from the majority, and five from 
the minority in the vote on the resolution citing the inferior judica- 
tories. The design of the appointment of this committee was, if pos- 
sible, to effect an amicable division of the Presbyterian church into two 
distinct organizations. The majority were determined on a division 
in order, as they conceived, to preserve the pur ty and regular or- 
der of the Presbyterian church. The minority were willing to yield 
to this measure, to preserve what they believed to be their just 
rights, and be permitted to live in peace. The committee were 
agreed on the propriety of a division under existing circumstances ; 
but could not agree on the time when it should take place, nor on 
the terms of the division. They reported the state of the case ? 
and were discharged. 

The object contemplated by the appointment of the committee 
on the state of the church having failed, a motion was made, de- 
claring that the Synod of the Western Reserve is not a part of the 
Presbyterian church, which, after a debate occupying a consider- 
able part of three days, was carried, by a majority of twenty-seven 
votes. The next step in the progress of reform was, a resolution 
affirming that the organization and operations of the so called 
American Home Missionary Society, and American Education 
Society, and its branches, of whatever name, are exceedingly in- 
jurious to the peace and purity of the Presbyterian church ; and 
recommending that they should cease to operate within any of the 
churches under their care. This was carried by a majority of 
thirty-eight votes, the majority having been much increased by the 
exclusion of the members of the Synod of the Western Reserve. 
The excision of the Synods of Utica, Geneva, and Genesee, then 
followed, and, at a subsequent period, the dissolution of the third 
Presbytery of Philadelphia. The Assembly organized a "Board 
of Foreign Missions," consisting of forty ministers, and forty lay- 
men ; adopted the testimony against " doctrinal errors," said to be 
rife in some parts of the Presbyterian church ; and completed 
their work of reform, by enjoining on the Synods of Albany, New 
Jersey, Michigan, Cincinnati, and Illinois, to take special order 
on the subjects of irregularities in church, order, or errors in doc- 



THE EXSCINDING ACT. 



245 



trine, charged upon some of their Presbyteries, and to report their 
doings thereon to the next General Assembly. 

Among those who were then declared not to have a standing in 
the Presbyterian church were some of the choicest spirits of the 
age ; some of extensive learning, and superior talents ; some of 
enlarged theological attainments, and accurate biblical research ; 
many of the most useful ministers, and successful in winning souls 
to Christ ; many of deep piety and ardent zeal. Among them may 
be particularly noticed the late venerable James Richards, D.D., 
Professor of Christian Theology in the Theological Seminary of 
Auburn, a man of warm piety, an able and correct theologian, 
indefatigable in the performance of the duties of his station, and 
universally esteemed by all his extensive acquaintance. At the 
seventeenth meeting of the General Assembly, in 1805, he was 
elected Moderator of the Assembly. Among those who voted in 
favor of the resolution to exscind, we find the names of many ex- 
cellent men : men of high standing in the ministrv, and in the 
Presbyterian church ; men of warm piety, and kind feelings. 
They undoubtedly honestly believed that they were performing 
a duty which they owed to God, to some of them a painful duty, 
and that they were promoting the interests of Christ's kingdom in 
the world. 

When the news of the proceedings of the Assembly reached 
Western New York, it produced a great sensation. The meeting 
of the General Assembly was an event which had been contemplat- 
ed with solicitude. It was well known that the Old School party 
in the Presbyterian church were exceedingly restive in the present 
posture of affairs, and that many of them were determined on a di- 
vision of the church, if it could be effected ; but it probably never 
entered the mind of a single individual, that the Assembly could 
adopt such a measure as that of declaring five hundred ministers, 
and forty thousand communicants, who had been received in ac- 
cordance with the strict order of the Presbyterian church, not to 
have a standing in that church. The fourth resolution of the As- 
sembly evidently invited disunion and division in the Synods, Pres- 
byteries, and churches. Tt is predicated on the supposition that 
there were several churches and ministers, if not one or two Pres- 
byteries, in connexion with the Synods, which, as the Assembly 
term it, were strictly Presbyterian in doctrine and order, and wish- 
ing to unite with the General Assembly, and directs them to apply 
for admission, if ministers or churches, to those Presbyteries be- 
longing to the connexion most convenient to their respective loca- 
tions ; or, if a Presbytery, to make application to the next General 
Assembly. The Assembly, in their answer to the Protest of the 
Commissioners from the three Synods, say, " This Assembly merely 
tenders its advice to the ministers and churches sincerely Presby- 
terian, and points them to the constitutional door by which they 



246 WESTERN NEW YORK. 

may speedily return to the church of their preference and affection." 
Here is an acknowledgment that the Assembly did advise the mi- 
nisters and churches of these Synods, if they were strictly Presby- 
terian, to break away from their connexion, and unite themselves 
with the General Assembly. The language of the resolution, how- 
ever, is the language of authority, claiming jurisdiction ; the Assem- 
bly directs. As an authoritative order it was viewed by the Com- 
missioners from the exscinded Synods. In their Protest they say, 
" The last resolution in the category directs Presbyteries, ministers, 
and churches, to detach themselves from the bodies with which 
they are now connected and apply for admission into the nearest 
Presbyteries of the Presbyterian church ; thus attempting to exer- 
cise authority over bodies already declared not to be constituent 
portions of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, and to 
disturb their order and peace. As an authoritative direction it was 
understood by some ministers, who, without giving any notice to 
the Presbyteries with which they were connected, united them- 
selves with an Old School Presbytery, and justified themselves on 
the ground that they were obeying the order of the General As- 
sembly. But understanding it in the language of advice, was there 
a propriety in giving advice under the circumstances? Those to 
whom the advice was tendered, were, according to the position as- 
sumed by the Assembly, without their jurisdiction, and holding no 
particular relation to them. They belonged, by their own volun- 
tary act, to ecclesiastical bodies, acknowledged by that General 
Assembly to be ' independent bodies, standing on their own ground, 
and free to choose their future connexions.' They then, according 
to the ground taken by the Assembly, were ecclesiastical organiza- 
tions, as distinct from, and independent of the church represented 
by the General Assembly, as any other ecclesiastical organization 
in the United States. Would it be proper for the General Assem- 
bly of the Presbyterian church, in solemn meeting, to pass a reso- 
lution like the following, viz. — ' Inasmuch as there are reported to 
be several ministers now in connexion with one or more of the 
Associations connected with the General Association of the State 
of Connecticut, who are strictly Presbyterian in doctrine and order, 
therefore, resolved, that all such ministers as wish to unite with us, 
are hereby directed to apply for admission into those Presbyteries 
which are most convenient to their respective locations?' Would 
not such a resolution be looked upon as an impertinent interference 
with the relations of an independent church, and are not the cases 
parallel ?" 

But this was not the only quarter from whence the integrity 
of the exscinded ecclesiastical bodies was assailed. The 
General Association of Congregational Ministers in the State 
of New York, at their meeting held August 24th, 1837, in an ad- 
dress to all ministers, churches, and Christians, who were of the 



THE EXSCIXD1XG ACT. 



247 



same faith and order with them, throughout the State, endeavor to 
persuade the ministers and churches having a predilection for the 
Congregational mode of church government, to secede from the 
Presbyteries with which they were connected, and to unite w r ith 
them. In their address they draw a contrast between Congrega- 
tionalism and Presbyterianism, endeavoring to show the incongruity 
of the one with the other, to the extent that it was impossible for 
churches of the two denominations to unite in one ecclesiastical 
organization: and that every attempt to unite the two denomina- 
tions had proved a signal failure. They then advert to the acts of 
the General Assembly, abrogating the Plan of Union, and declar- 
ing the Synods of Utica, Geneva, and Genesee, to be no longer 
connected with the Presbyterian Church. Having thus paved the 
way, they proceeded, in direct terms, to the proposition. They 
say, " We see in the late proceedings the hand of God, by which, 
without any breach of faith or order on their part, the Congrega- 
tionalists of this State, who have heretofore been under the super- 
vision of the Presbyterian General Assembly, are fully released 
from all their obligations to that body, except by those bonds by 
which we are allied to all who love our Lord. We cannot but 
regard this event as placing the Congregational Ministers and 
churches who have heretofore adopted the Plan of Union, in a new 
position, which calls them to a careful and fearless inquiry after 
the path of their duty. Under these circumstances, the General 
Association, representing the body of Associated Congregational 
Ministers and Churches in the State of New York, feel themselves 
called upon to speak, frankly and kindly, their own convictions as 
to the course which ought to be taken by those portions of the 
excluded Synods who are Congregationalists in principle, — We, 
therefore, earnestly advise Congregationalists throughout the State, 
not to participate in any party strifes or measures in the General 
Assembly, with which we have none of us, now, any ecclesiastical 
connexion. We cannot see why we should sacrifice our principles, 
our peace, our .interests, and our usefulness, in efforts to strengthen 
Presbyterianism in any form, when we regard the system itself as a 
usurpation of powers, whieh our Lord has committed to the churches 
alone. We also invite you to look seriously and candidly into the 
question, whether a conscientious adherence to our principles does 
not require you to return at once to the simple institutions of our 
fathers. A good conscience can never be satisfied with practices 
so much at variance with its own acknowledged principles, as is 
Presbyterian government with the views of enlightened Congre- 
gationalists. Without judging of past times, we are free to say, 
that the attendance on our present meetings, the spirit of our pro- 
ceedings, and the information brought up by the brethren from all 
parts of the State, prove abundantly the practicability of extending 
an organization strictly Congregational, to embrace all the churches 



248 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



and ministers in our borders, who agree with us in doctrine and 
discipline. How agreeable would be the sight, and how much the 
prosperity of Congregational churches, the peace of Zion, and the 
power of religion would be promoted by such an arrangement, we 
leave you to judge." 

Thus attempts were made from very different quarters to dis- 
unite and divide the ministers and churches of the exscinded Sy- 
nods ; but, as it respects the two Synods of Western New York 
particularly, they were nearly abortive. A few ministers and 
churches left their Presbyteries, and connected themselves with an 
Old School Presbytery, or a Congregational Association, but the 
instances were rare. In this crisis of affairs, a circular, signed by 
Dr. Richards and others, was issued, inviting a convention of 
ministers and lay delegates to be appointed by the Presbyteries of 
the four exscinded Synods, the third Presbytery of Philadelphia, 
and such others as sympathized with them, to meet at Auburn, at 
the period of the anniversary of the Theological Seminary in that 
village, for the purpose of consultation on the course proper to be 
pursued under the peculiar circumstances in w 7 hich the Presby- 
terian Church was thrown by the late acts of the General Assem- 
bly. In accordance with this invitation, the Convention met in the 
first Presbyterian church in Auburn, August 17th, 1837, and was 
temporarily organized by appointing Dr. Richards chairman, read- 
ing the 80th and 46th Psalms by Dr. Patton of New York, and 
prayer by Dr. McAuley of New York. One hundred and fifty- 
five commissioners, clerical and lay, appeared with regular com- 
missions from the following Presbyteries, viz. Watertown, Oswego, 
Oneida, Otsego, Geneva, Onondaga, Cayuga, Tioga, Cortland, 
Delaware, Chemung, Bath, Ontario, Rochester, Genesee, Angelica, 
Niagara, Buffalo, Grand River, Portage, Huron, Trumbull, Cleve- 
land, Lorain, Newark, Montrose, third of Philadelphia, Wilmington, 
Columbia, New York third, West Hanover, Cincinnati, and Mau- 
mee. Fourteen ministers without commissions from the Presby- 
teries of St. Lawrence, Chenango, Champlain, Troy, New York, 
New York second, North River, Ohio, Cincinnati, Athens, Illinois, 
Alton, and St. Louis, were, by a vote of the Convention, made 
members in full. On the nomination of a committee appointed for 
the purpose, the persons whose names follow were appointed offi- 
cers of the Convention : — 

Rev. James Richards, D.D., of Auburn, President. 
Rev. James H. Hotchkin, of Campbell, N. Y.,~) 
Rev. Joseph Penny, D D of Clinton, N. Y., Vice-President*. 
Hon. Henry Brown, of Brownhelm, Ohio, 
Hon. B. P. Johnson, of Rome, N. Y., J 

Rev. Tryon Edwards, of Rochester, N. Y., ) Secretaries 
E. W. Chester, Esq., of Cincinnati, Ohio, 



THE EXSCINDING ACT. 



249 



The Convention continued its sessions during Thursday, Friday, 
Saturday, and the succeeding Monday. All the proceedings of the 
Convention were marked by deliberation, calmness, and decision, 
and, what is peculiarly noticeable, every resolution was passed with 
entire unanimity. Among the resolutions passed by the Conven- 
tion, the following may be deemed worthy of record, viz. 

" Resolved, That, in the judgment of this Convention, the acts of 
the last General Assembly, declaring the Synods of Western Re- 
serve, Utica, Geneva, and Genesee not to be constituent parts of 
the Presbyterian Church, on the ground that their connexion was 
dependent on the Plan of Union of 1801, and upon charges vague 
and unsupported, were unconstitutional ; and, therefore, in the 
opinion of this Convention, null and void. 

" Resolved, That the action of all the judicatories ought to be 
directed to the preservation of the union and integrity of the Pres- 
byterian Church, on the principles of good faith, brotherly kind- 
ness, and the constitution. 

" Resolved, In accordance with these principles, that it be recom- 
mended to the Synods declared to be exscinded, with their Presby- 
teries, and churches, to retain their present organization and con- 
nexion without seeking any other ; and that the Presbyteries send 
their commissioners to the next General Assembly as usual. 

" Resolved, That a committee be appointed to correspond, and 
confer on the general state of the church, and to take measures to 
secure the ends proposed by this Convention, as expressed in the 
foregoing resolutions." 

Rev. Drs. James Richards and Luther Halsey, Rev. Messrs. 
P. C. Hay, Seth Smith, Levi Parsons, Josiah Hopkins, L. E. 
Lathrop, and Henry Dwight, and Hiram F. Mather, Esq., D. W. 
Forman, Esq., and Pliny Dickinson, Esq., were appointed this com- 
mittee. 

A committee of which Hon. William Jessup of Pennsylvania was 
chairman, was appointed to draft the reasons on which the Conven- 
tion passed the first of these resolutions. A committee also was 
appointed to draft a letter to the judicatories, ministers, and mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, in relation to 
the unhappy circumstances in which a portion of the church was 
placed by the late action of the General Assembly. Of this com- 
mittee, Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher was chairman. Another com- 
mittee, of which Rev. Dr. Samuel H. Cox was chairman, was ap- 
pointed to draw up an expression of the opinion of the Convention 
touching the rights of members of the Presbyterian Church, as 
ministers and private members ; the manner in which these rights 
are guaranteed and guarded, and in which they may become im- 
paired, forfeited, or taken away. Another committee, Rev. Dr. 
Luther Halsey chairman, was appointed to draft a Summary of 
Doctrine, as believed and maintained by that portion of the church, 



250 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



declared by the late General Assembly not to be a constituent part 
of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. Also a committee 
to draw up a statement of facts in relation to the formation and 
character of the churches within the bounds of the Synods declared 
to be exscinded. Of this committee Rev. Stephen Peet was chair- 
man. These committees presented able reports on the several sub- 
jects assigned them, which were unanimously adopted, and pub- 
lished with the Minutes of the Convention. Of the report on Doc- 
trine, we have already, in another place, given the principal part. 
The other reports, though valuable documents, are too long to insert 
here. The Convention recommended to the churches represented 
in the meeting, and all other churches that should be disposed to 
unite with them, the observance of a day of united fasting, humilia- 
tion, and prayer, in view of the then present divided state of the 
Presbyterian Church, and the low state of religion in the country. 
They passed resolutions providing for the publication of the mi- 
nutes, and dissolved the meeting with singing the 133d psalm, prayer, 
and the apostolic benediction by the venerable president, Dr. 
Richards. 

Many of the members of this Convention came to the meeting 
with fear and trembling. They apprehended that a great diversity 
of sentiment respecting the course proper to be pursued in the pre- 
sent crisis would be found to prevail, and that it would be found 
impossible so to harmonize the minds of the members, as to bring 
them with any good degree of unanimity to adopt any plan. When 
the second and third of the resolutions mentioned above, were laid 
before the Convention by the business committee, a long and 
animated discussion took place, and much diversity of opinion was 
manifested. The feelings of many of the members were most in- 
tense, and many spoke on the subject with much earnestness. All, 
however, manifested a strong desire for union, and all the speeches 
were characterized by that spirit of mutual affection and esteem, 
which wins the heart. Drs. Lyman Beecherand Thomas M'Auley 
spoke with their accustomed power, and with the ordinary effect in 
producing conviction. The observations of Dr. Hillyer of New 
Jersey were characterized by his ordinary good sense and sound 
judgment, and were heard with profound attention ; and when the 
vote was taken, and it was found that the resolutions had passed 
unanimously, tears of joy coursed down his venerable cheeks. The 
Convention, for a short time, suspended business, and offered solemn 
thanks to Almighty God for the entire unanimity with which these 
resolutions had been adopted. 

The result of this Convention decided the course for Synods and 
Presbyteries to pursue. Its advice was generally approved by 
those who were connected with the exscinded Synods. All the 
Presbyteries of these Synods, with the exception of Oswego and 
St. Lawrence, sent their commissioners, as usual, to the General 



THE EXSCINDING ACT. 



251 



Assembly of 1838. On the presentation of their commissions to 
the clerks of the Assembly, they were rejected, and at the opening 
of the Assembly, after the roll of members had been read by the 
clerk, Rev. Dr. Erskine Mason offered a resolution, " That the Roll 
be now completed by adding the names of all the Commissioners 
now present from the several Presbyteries within the bounds of 
the Synods of Utica, Geneva, Genesee, and the Western Reserve," 
stating that the Commissioners from these Presbyteries had offered 
their commissions to the clerks, who had refused to receive them. 
The moderator said they could not be received. Dr. Mason then 
formally tendered the commissions, and demanded that the names 
of the Commissioners should be put upon the roll. The resolution 
was seconded, but it was declared out of order by the moderator. 
An appeal was taken from the decision of the moderator ; but he 
refused to put the appeal. An organization of an Assembly, 
claiming to be " The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church 
in the United States of America,'' by the election of Rev. Samuel 
Fisher, D.D., as Moderator, Rev. Erskine Mason, D.D., Stated 
Clerk, and Rev. E. W. Gilbert, Permanent Clerk, then took place. 
The Assembly thus organized immediately adjourned to the Lec- 
ture Room of the first Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. By 
this act the Presbyterian Church became divided into two distinct 
organizations, each claiming to be " The Presbyterian Church in 
the United States of America" The merits of this claim in favor 
of either party, it is not the province of this history to discuss. 
Both of the bodies are large, and respectable. The new school 
church, represented by the Assembly of which Dr. Fisher was 
moderator, and with which the churches of Western New York 
generally are connected, consisted, in 1846, of twenty Synods, em- 
bracing one hundred and five Presbyteries, one thousand, four hun- 
dred and thirty ministers, one hundred and fifty-one licentiates, and 
one thousand, five hundred and eighty-one churches. The num- 
ber of communicants reported was one hundred and forty-five 
thousand, four hundred and sixteen. From many churches the 
number of communicants was not reported, and the number stated 
above is far less than the true number. It is somewhat singular, that 
the number of ministers and licentiates united, precisely equals the 
number of churches. 

The ministers and churches in W estern New York, generally, 
have continued with their Presbyteries and Synods, and cordially 
co-operate with the New School part of the church. A few have 
seceded, and connected themselves with Congregational organi- 
zations, or, perhaps, stand as independent Congregational churches. 
In August, 1837, four ministers and one or two churches from 
different Presbyteries in Western New York, united themselves 
with the Old School Presbytery of Susquehannah. This laid the 
foundation for the organization of an Old School Presbytery wholly 



252 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



within the limits of Western New York. This Presbytery has 
since increased in the number of ministers and churches, and by 
division has become three Presbyteries, viz. The Presbytery of 
Steuben, the Presbytery of Wyoming, and the Presbytery of Buffalo 
City, which together had in 1846, an aggregate of thirty ministers, 
and twenty- two churches numbering, according to the report made 
to the General Assembly, one thousand six hundred and fifty-two 
communicants. These Presbyteries, together with that of Ogdens- 
burgh, which consists of six ministers and seven churches, consti- 
tute the Synod of Buffalo. Of the ministers, a large proportion of 
them were formerly members of some of the New School Presby- 
teries, some of whom left their former connexion without notice, 
and some received regular dismissions on application, or gave 
notice of their secession in a friendly way. Of the churches, some 
of them were formerly connected with a New School Presbytery; 
others were constituted by a secession from a New School church. 
The division of churches has been, in some instances, a painful 
circumstance. The original church, perhaps, was but just able to 
support the institutions of the gospel ; and, by a division, two weak 
churches have been made, neither of which is, without missionary 
aid, able to support a minister. Such divisions usually excite strong 
and lasting feelings of dislike, arising many times to bitterness, in 
the opposing parties, and producing very unchristian acts in the 
parties towards each other. Such has to some extent been the case 
in Western New York, as the consequence of the division of the 
Presbyterian Church, and especially when a particular church has 
been divided. We are happy, however, to be able to say, that 
these unholy feelings appear to have subsided. Ministers and 
churches of both parties feel less alienated from each other, and 
disposed to esteem and treat each other as fellow-heirs of the grace 
of God. 

Since the exscinding act of 1837, the New School Presbyterian 
Church in Western New York has been, in general, in a prosperous 
state. By comparing the reports made to the General Assembly 
in 1837, with those of 1846, it appears that two Presbyteries had 
been added to the former number ; the number of ministers was 
increased by thirty-four ; the number of licentiates connected with 
the Synod of Geneva was greater by six than the number connected 
with both Synods in. 1837, the Synod of Genesee making in 1846 
no report of licentiates ; the number of churches had increased 
only three, while the number of communicants in the churches was 
greater by more than nine thousand. 



253 



CHAPTER XX. 

Course of Congregational Ministers and Churches after the Dissolution of the Asso- 
ciations. Rev. John Taylor. Genesee Consociation : the Monroe Association : the 
Consociation of Western New York. Attention paid by the New School Churches 
to the Benevolent Enterprises of the day. Heme Missions: Foreign Missions: 
Bible Societies: Cayuga Bible Society: Female Bible Society of Geneva; Cort- 
land Female Bible Society: other Societies Auxiliary to the American Bible So- 
ciety: the Monroe County Bible Society. Education of Poor and Pious Youth for 
the "Ministry : Recommendations of the General Assembly on this Subject. Action 
of the Presbyteries. Western Education Society: Tract Societies: Tract Distri- 
bution, Colporteurs. Sabbath Schools: Genesee Sabbath School Union: County 
Unions. Sabbath School Statistics for 1833. 

We have in a former chapter noticed the dissolution of the On- 
tario Association in the month of May, J 813, and of the Union 
Association in February, 1822. After the dissolution of the On- 
tario Association, no organized body of Congregational ministers 
and churches existed for a number of years, in that part of West- 
ern New York which lies west of the eastern line of the Military 
Tract. A few of the churches attached to the Congregational form 
of church government remained in a state of independence. The 
same was true with respect to two or three ministers. Most of 
the ministers, however, united with the Presbytery, adopting the 
Confession of Faith and Form of Government of the Presbyterian 
Church, as directed in the Book of Discipline. Most of the 
churches united with the Presbytery, some adopting the Presby- 
terian form of Government in full, others uniting on what was 
called, " the accommodating VlanP Confident expectations were 
entertained that entire harmony between Presbyterian and Con- 
gregational Churches would prevail, and that their entire energies 
might be directed to the building up of the church of Christ, and 
not be spent in comparatively trivial controversy about the ex- 
ternals of religion. For a season these expectations seemed in a 
good measure to be realized. Ministers and licentiates generally, 
who came from Congregational bodies, were willing to adopt the 
Presbyterian form of government, and most of the new churches 
formed, were formed on the Presbyterian platform. This, how- 
ever, was not universally the case. Some ministers who came in- 
to the country from the New England States, brought with them 
strong predilections for the form of Congregational church govern- 
ment in all its extent ; and, of course, a strong dislike to any 
amalgamation with Presbyterians. They represented the liberties 
of the churches as being in danger through the influences of Pres- 



254 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



byterianism. On the other hand, one or two of the ministers of 
the Presbytery were never cordial in admitting churches into the 
Presbyterian connexion, which retained, in any degree, the con- 
gregational mode of church government. Hence unpleasant 
bickerings would sometimes take place, and jealousies were pro- 
moted. 

About the year 1817, or perhaps a little earlier, Rev. John 
Taylor, from Deerfield (Mass.), came into the country, and locat- 
ed himself at Mendon, in the county of Ontario. He was a man 
somewhat past the middle age of life, and had been for many years 
pastor of the Congregational Church of Deerfield. He was a gen- 
tleman of high respectability, of good reputation as a Christian 
minister, of finished education for the times, and of more than or- 
dinary capacity. He was in this way prepared to have a very 
considerable influence among ministers, and over the churches and ^ 
community. Mr. Taylor was rigidly a Congregationalist in his 
sentiments and feelings, and looked upon the Presbyterian form of 
church government as an unhallowed usurpation of authority over 
the heritage of God. Through his influence, in a great measure, 
Congregationalism was revived, and an organization of Congrega- 
tional ministers and churches formed, denominated, The Genesee 
Consociation. This organization took place, as the writer believes, 
in 1818. The Consociation has at some periods embraced a con- 
siderable number of ministers and churches ; but has of late years 
gone much to decay, having lost its character for orthodoxy, and 
having, on account of its heterodox character, been excluded from 
the General Association of the State. It now numbers a few 
ministers and churches, but exerts only a small measure of influ- 
ence in ecclesiastical affairs, not being recognised as an orthodox 
body by either Congregationalists or Presbyterians. 

Two other Congregational bodies in Western New York have 
been organized within a few years past, viz. The Monroe Asso- 
ciation, and the Consociation of Western New York. The Monro 
Association was formed by a coalition of a number of ministers and 
churches in the county of Monroe and vicinity, who seceded from 
the Genesee Consociation, on account of the heterodox character 
of that body. The Consociation of Western New York has its 
location west of the Monroe Association'; but the precise bounda- 
ries of these organizations are unknown to the writer. These 
bodies are not large ; whether on the increase, or otherwise, is not 
known to the writer. They are both of them connected with the 
General Association of Congregational ministers in the State of New 
York, and, it is hoped, are, in some good degree, engaged in pro- 
moting the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom in Western New 
York. Their churches contribute to the funds of the American 
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and the American 
Home Missionary Society, and regard with favor the other bene- 



BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATIONS. 



255 



volent organizations of the day. In doctrine they are believed to 
be substantially in agreement with their Congregational brethren in 
other parts of the State, and in New England. 

The Presbyterian churches in Western New York, and the Con- 
gregational churches which have coalesced with them, have ever, 
from the beginning, regarded the benevolent operations of the day 
with the highest favor. We have already brought into notice 
their course with respect to the department of Domestic Missions. 
They generally sympathize with the American Home Missionary 
Society, with the exception of that portion of the Presbyterian 
Church connected with the Old School General Assembly. It is 
believed that almost all the churches contribute, and the aggregate 
amount of the contributions of these churches constitutes an impor- 
tant item in the revenue of the Society for sending missionaries to 
the Far West. These churches ever, from their organization, have 
been familiar with the subject of domestic missions ; they have 
witnessed their operations ; have been strengthened by their influ- 
ence ; and know their value. Not having been unacquainted with 
feebleness themselves, they have learned to succor those that are 
feeble. 

In the department of Foreign Missions, the churches of Western 
New 7 York of which we speak, have done comparatively well. At 
the commencement of the operations of the American Board of 
Commissioners for Foreign Missions, many of the good people of 
Western New York imbibed a goodly share of the spirit of mis- 
sions, and contributed according to their ability to the funds of the 
Board. They were in the practice of reading the " Panoplist," the 
periodical which furnished the greatest amount of information on 
the subject of foreign missions. The publications of the Board 
have ever had an extended circulation in Western New York, and 
some of the Christians of this region were among the earliest con- 
tributors to their treasury. Twelve of the corporate members of 
the Board, and nearly four hundred of the honorary members, made 
such by the payment of fifty dollars into the treasury of the Board, 
are, or have been, residents of Western New York. Nearly all of 
these are connected with the Presbyterian or Congregational 
Church. Within the bounds of Western New York are six agen- 
cies, or auxiliary Societies, organized for the purpose of raising 
funds for the American Board. From these institutions for the 
year ending August 1st, 1845, there was paid into the treasury of 
the Board the sum of twelve thousand two hundred and twenty- 
five dollars and seven cents, which is considerably more than half 
of what was collected by all the other auxiliaries in the State. 

In addition to the sum above mentioned, considerable sums were 
collected in congregations or given by individuals, and paid directly 
into the treasury of the Board, and of course were not credited to 
any one of the auxiliaries. How much these might have swelled 



256 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



the amount, it is not in the writer's power to estimate. It is evident, 
however, from the. preceding statement that the Presbyterian 
churches in Western New York are not behind their brethren, in 
other parts of the land, in regard for the salvation of their dying 
fellow men. In most of the churches the monthly concert of prayer 
for the conversion of the world unto God, is observed, and is con- 
sidered as an interesting season, both as it relates to the devotional 
exercises, and the communication of missionary intelligence. The 
churches of Western New r York have furnished a considerable 
number of laborers for the Foreign .Mission field. Of these some 
were clergymen, and some laymen ; some were male and some 
female. The exact number is not known to the writer. A number 
of them are still on missionary ground, employed in their Master's 
work ; some have been called from their labors here on earth, we 
doubt not, to their rest in heaven. 

At an early period the attention of the Congregational and Pres- 
byterian ministers and churches of Western New York was en- 
gaged on the subject of furnishing the Bible, by gratuitous distri- 
bution or sale, for the destitute within their borders. Before any 
organization, having a reference exclusively to this object, was 
formed in this region, Bibles, for gratuitous distribution to the 
indigent and destitute, were sent to individuals or intrusted to itine- 
rant missionaries for distribution, by the Bible Societies of Connec- 
ticut and Massachusetts, and, perhaps, by some other Societies or 
organizations. But it was not long that the good people of West- 
ern New York felt that they could depend entirely on foreign aid 
for the necessary supply of the Holy Scriptures for the destitute of 
the region. And, instead of transmitting the funds raised by them 
to Societies in Connecticut and Massachusetts, it was deemed more 
expedient to form organizations of their own. On the 23d day of 
February, 1815, a Bible Society was formed in the Court-house in 
Auburn, in accordance with a public notice which had been pre- 
viously given for that purpose. This Society was denominated, 
" The Cayuga Bible Society." The officers of the Society, elected 
at its organization for the year ensuing, were, 



Rev. Hezekiah N. Woodruff, President. 
William Brown, Esq., Vice President. 
Rev. Seth Smith, Secretary. 
Mr. Horace Hills, Treasurer. 

Rev. Royal Phelps, ^ 
Rev. Levi Parsons, 



Rev. Henry Ford, 
Rev. Benjamin Rice, 
Capt. Joseph Rhodes, 




These officers of the Society were all ministers or members of 



BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATIONS. 



257 



the Presbyterian Church, from which circumstance it is evident, 
that the members of the Society generally, if not universally, were 
of that denomination. At a period nearly as early, or perhaps 
even earlier, the Female Bible Society of Geneva was formed by 
ladies mostly of the Presbyterian denomination, in the village of 
Geneva and its vicinity. This Society, ere long, extended itself 
into other places, and some branch societies were formed in con- 
nexion with it. Such a branch existed in Prattsburgh, Steuben 
county ; another in Wolcott, Wayne county. There may have 
been others unknown to the writer. The Society for several 
years continued its operations, and did considerable for the supply 
of the destitute with the Holy Scriptures. During the first three 
years of the operation of the American Bible Society, the Female 
Bible Society of Geneva furnished one hundred and twenty-seven 
dollars to its treasury. The labors of this Society deserve to be 
kept in remembrance. The Cortland Female Bible Society may 
also be noted here as among the earliest institutions formed in 
Western New York, for the distribution of the Holy Scriptures. 
This Society, previous to the third annual meeting of the American 
Bible Society, had paid into the treasury of that Society, one hun- 
dred and thirty dollars. On the 11th day of May, 1816, the Ame- 
rican Bible Society was formed in the city of New York, by a 
convention of delegates from local societies in different parts of the 
United States. The Cayuga County Bible Society was represented in 
the Convention by Rev. Henry Ford, and, as the writer believes, was, 
at that time, the only Bible Society existing in Western New York, 
with the exception of the Female Bible Society of Geneva, and, 
perhaps, the Cortland Female Bible Society. Soon after this 
period other Societies for the distribution of the Holy Scriptures 
were organized in Western New York. The Parent Society, in 
their first Annual Report, mention, as Auxiliary Societies, Cortland 
Female, Cortland Auxiliary, Seneca County, Madison County, 
Broome County, Steuben County, and Ontario County Bible Soci- 
eties. In a short period Societies, auxiliary to the Parent Society, 
existed in every county, besides numbers of more circumscribed 
limits. The members of these Societies were mostly connected 
with Presbyterian or Congregational congregations. The Episcopa- 
lians and Methodists generally preferred not to unite with other 
denominations, in any organization of a religious character ; and 
the Baptists, for a season, mostly stood aloof from the Societies. 
Within a few years past the Methodists have changed their course, 
and cordially unite in these Societies, with other denominations, 
while the Baptists have almost entirely withdrawn, and act by 
themselves. 

Near the close of the year 1824, the Monroe County Bible Soci- 
ety appointed an Agent to go through the County for the purpose 
of ascertaining the number of families destitute of Bibles. Persons 

17 



258 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



to make the necessary inquiries were appointed by him in each 
School district throughout the county. The result of this investi- 
gation exhibited about twelve hundred families living without the 
Word of God in their houses. The Society then resolved unani- 
mously, that they would, at all events, raise funds sufficient to sup- 
ply the destitution. In accordance with this resolution, the funds 
were raised, Bibles procured, and the distribution of them complet- 
ed in the early part of the ensuing summer. This is the first in- 
stance on record of the systematic supply of the Bible to all the 
destitute families within a certain district, in a given time. But this 
good example seemed to be contagious. Other Societies, within a 
short period, adopted the same course, and at the meeting of the 
American Bible Society in May, 1829, the following resolution was 
passed, viz. — " Resolved, that this Society, with an humble reliance 
on divine aid, will endeavor to supply all the destitute families in 
the United States with the Holy Scriptures, that may be willing to 
purchase or receive them, within the space of two years, provided 
sufficient means be furnished by its Auxiliaries and benevolent indi- 
viduals, in season to enable its Board of Managers to carry this re- 
solution into effect." In the interval between the action of the Mon- 
roe County Society and that of the parent Society, several of the 
County Societies had adopted similar resolutions, and carried them 
into effect, and, in a short period, all the County Societies in West- 
ern New 7 York had followed the example. By most or all of these 
Societies, the general supply of the destitute within their bounda- 
ries, has been repeated, in several instances, at subsequent times. 

At an early period the ministers and members of the Presbyte- 
rian and Congregational churches in Western New York, were 
apprised, not only of the inability of many of the newly formed 
churches to provide a competent support for the ministry, but also 
of the great deficiency in the number of pious and educated minis- 
ters to furnish the needful supply of ministerial labor for the rapidly 
increasing number of churches, and for missionary operations. As 
early as the year 1805, an overture on the subject of educating in- 
digent pious young men for the gospel ministry, was laid before the 
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, by Rev. Dr. Ashbel 
Green, and the Presbyteries were directed to instruct their com- 
missioners for the next year respecting the measures which trjey 
might think it advisable for the Assembly to adopt. At the next 
meeting, it appearing that there was a general coincidence of senti- 
ment on this subject among the Presbyteries, the Assembly recom- 
mended to every Presbytery under their care, to use their utmost 
endeavors to increase, by all suitable means in their power, the 
number of promising candidates for the holy ministry— to make 
vigorous exertions to raise funds to assist all the youth who might 
need assistance — to be careful that the youth whom they took on 
their funds, gave such evidence as the nature of the case admitted. 



BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATIONS 



259 



that they possessed both talents and piety — to inspect the education 
of the youth under their care, during the course both of their aca- 
demical and theological studies, so as eventually to bring them into 
the ministry, well furnished for their work. The Assembly further 
ordered that every Presbytery under their care should make annu- 
ally, a report of what they had done in this concern. It does not 
appear that under this recommendation any funds were raised by 
the Presbyteries of Western New York so as to be reported to the 
General Assembly prior to 1814. In that year the first church of 
Genoa is reported as having contributed to the education fund eight 
dollars and thirty-seven cents. The next year the Presbytery of 
Cayuga is reported as having collected for this object ten dollars 
and thirty-one cents, and the Presbytery of Onondaga thirty-two 
dollars and eleven cents. In 1816, the Presbytery of Geneva is re- 
ported as having collected twenty-one dollars and thirty-one cents, 
and the Presbytery of Onondaga thirty-two dollars and eleven 
cents. 

In 1817, the collections were, in the Presbytery of Geneva twenty- 
five dollars and twenty cents : Cayuga, fifteen dollars and eighty- 
four cents ; and Onondaga 194 dollars and ninety-nine cents. In 
the following year the Presbytery of Niagara reported, as collected 
for the education fund, five dollars and eighty-two cents ; Ontario, 
three dollars and thirty-three cents ; Bath, twelve dollars and sixty- 
four cents ; Geneva, ten dollars ; Cayuga, ninety dollars and forty- 
three cents; and Onondaga, 195 dollars and twenty-nine cents. 
These appear as small beginnings, and they indeed were so. But 
it is to be recollected that Western New York was not at that 
period, the immensely rich and populous region that it now is ; that 
institutions of learning were rare in the region ; that few compara- 
tively of the young men turned their attention to a professional life, 
and of those who did, the work of the ministry was chosen bv only 
a very small number. Candidates for the ministry were very few T ; 
nor was this peculiar to Western New York. Throughout the 
bounds of the whole Presbyterian church in the United States, in 
the year 1813, only twenty-seven young men are reported as under 
the patronage of the Presbyteries, preparing for the ministry in 
accordance with the recommendations of the General Assembly : 
and in the year 1815, only forty. Nor does it appear that the sums 
stated above constitute the whole of the collections raised in 
Western New York, for the support of indigent young men in their 
preparation for the ministry. In 1813, no collections for this object 
are reported by the Presbytery of Onondaga, but it is stated that 
one young man, selected and supported by them, was in a course 
of preparation for the ministry. 

Near the close of the year 1817, the Western Education Society 
was organized at Utica, for the declared " purpose of aiding indi- 
gent young men of talents and piety, in acquiring a competent edu- 



260 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



cation for the gospel ministry." This Society embraced in its 
operations not only what in this work is denominated Western New 
York, but also much of the more central and northern part of the 
State. Its centre of operations was for a number of years at Utica. 
Of late years the Society has become more limited in its field of 
operation, by the establishment of the Utica Agency, and the trans- 
fer of the seat of its operations from Utica to Auburn. The Society 
was organized on liberal Christian principles. The Directors, in 
their report to the Society at its first annual meeting, say, " The 
Western Education Society is established on a broad basis. It 
confines its charities to no particular district — to no particular 
Christian Communion. Its beneficiaries, already received, are from 
three different States; and three are members of the Episcopal 
Church, and the others of the Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed, and 
Congregational Churches." At this period, twenty-eight young 
men were on the list of beneficiaries aided by the funds of the 
Society. The eighth article of the Constitution says, "No candi- 
date for the charity shall be approved, unless he produce satisfac- 
tory evidence of piety, talents, and indigence, nor unless he shall 
profess a determination to be a preacher of the gospel, nor shall any 
person continue to receive aid from this Society, after he has ceased 
to give the evidence, or to make the profession aforesaid." Every 
beneficiary, before receiving aid, was required to enter into a writ- 
ten engagement to refund the money he received, with interest, 
provided he should not become a preacher of the gospel. At the 
organization of the Society, Rev. Amos G. Baldwin of Utica of the 
Episcopal denomination, became a member and was elected one of 
its Vice-Presidents. Col. Robert Troup of Geneva, of the same 
church, made a liberal donation to the Society during its first year, 
and was, at the first annual meeting, elected to the office of Vice- 
President. But the writer is not aware, that, for many years past, 
the Society has received any patronage from members of the Epis- 
copal Church, or that any of its beneficiaries have been of that 
denomination. Its principal support has been derived from the 
members of the Presbyterian congregations. Soon after the organi- 
zation of the Society, Rev. Henry Smith (now deceased) was em- 
ployed as an agent to obtain subscriptions to the funds of the 
Society. God greatly prospered him in the undertaking. In the 
counties which we have included in Western New York, subscrip- 
tions were obtained by him to the amount of the following list, viz. 



County of Madison, .... $1833,35. 

County of Chenango, .... 1014,84. 

County of Onondaga, .... 1908,08. 

County of Cortland, .... 806,66. 

County of Broome, .... 3773,83. 

County of Tioga, .... 1611,25. 



BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATIONS. 



261 



County of Tompkins, . . . . 596,00. 

County of Seneca, . . ' . . 1534,25. 

County of Ontario, . . . 3237,89. 

County of Steuben, . . . . 2205,25. 

A large proportion of these subscriptions was subsequently trans- 
ferred to the Theological Seminary of Auburn, by consent of the 
parties, and some of them were never collected. 

The Society in 1822 became auxiliary to the Presbyterian Edu- 
cation Society (now the Central Education Society), which was 
organized in the city of New York in the year 1818, and became 
a Branch of the American Education Society in 1827. The West- 
ern Education Society, from the time of its organization, has 
steadily pursued the object of its organization, and has done much 
to supply the churches with pastors, and to provide missionaries for 
our western wilds, and to carry the gospel to the heathen in foreign 
lands. It has generally had on its list, from twenty to near one 
hundred beneficiaries, in the different stages of their preparation 
for the ministerial office ; and in addition to the support of its own 
beneficiaries, has at times paid considerable sums into the treasury 
of the parent Society. 

The Presbyterian and Congregational Churches in Western New 
York have, from an early period, taken a lively interest in the ope- 
rations of the American Tract Society. Before the organization 
of that Society, considerable was done in the way of distributing 
tracts ; but the facilities for so doing have been materially augment- 
ed by the organization of that Society. From the Annual Report 
of that Society, presented at New York, May, 1845, it appears that 
at that time, from one hundred and eleven Auxiliary Societies in 
Western New York, fourteen thousand seven hundred and thirty- 
three dollars had been received in remittances for tracts purchased 
by them, and one thousand two hundred and eighty-four dollars in 
free donations. The sum here mentioned as free donations must 
be very far short of the amount contributed by individuals in West- 
ern New York as free donations to the parent society, and an 
addition may also be made to the sum stated to have been received 
in remittance for tracts purchased, to the amount of purchases made 
by individuals. In the formation of Tract Societies in Western 
New York, and in conducting Tract operations, other evangelical 
denominations of Christians have, to some extent, been united with 
Presbyterians and Congregationalists ; but it will undoubtedly be 
admitted that these latter denominations have furnished far the 
greater part of the funds, and performed much the largest share of 
the labor employed in these operations. In the cities and large 
villages, and in many county towns, a systematic monthly distribu- 
tion of tracts has been carried on, and the results have been highly 



262 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



gratifying to the benevolent heart, In connexion with tract distri- 
bution, the system of colportage has to a considerable extent been 
adopted in Western New York. Within a year or two past, con- 
siderable sums have been raised in different counties, and colpor- 
teurs have been, and now are engaged in distributing the Society's 
tracts and bound volumes from house to house, conversing with 
individuals on the subjects which concern salvation, and praying 
with them, as opportunity presents. 

Sabbath, schools are held in high estimation by the churches 
of all evangelical denominations in Western New York. They 
were instituted in the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches of 
the region nearly as early as in any other part of the United States,, 
and have been maintained with much interest to the present time. 
Schools have been organized in nearly all of the churches, and 
very many of the children and youth are participating in this spe- 
cies of instruction. With the schools, libraries are generally con- 
nected, and in numbers of churches the monthly concert for Sabbath 
schools is observed. Various Associations for promoting Sabbath 
school instruction have been organized, among which the Genesee 
Sabbath School Union is, perhaps, the most conspicuous. This 
Union, comprising the thirteen western counties of the State, was 
formed at Rochester in 1827. One principal object of the Union 
was, to establish one or more large depositories of Sabbath School 
books, from which the schools in the different places might, with 
convenience, be supplied with libraries. Another object was the 
formation of an auxiliary Union in each of the thirteen counties 
embraced by the Union; and still another, to send forth agents to 
awaken attention to the subject of Sabbath Schools, to form County 
Unions, to organize Sabbath Schools, to obtain funds, and in every 
way to promote the general objects of the institution. All of these 
objects, in a good measure, were speedily accomplished. A County 
Union was, in each of the thirteen counties in which one had not 
previously existed, organized in the course of a year ; agents were 
employed ; many additional schools were formed ; funds to a con- 
siderable amount were obtained, and depositories of Sabbath school 
books were established. In this enterprise the different evangeli- 
cal denominations harmonized. The Annual Report for 1833, 
which is the last to which the writer has had access, gives the state 
of the different County Unions as follows, viz. 

Alleghany, — 78 schools, 380 teachers, 2244 scholars, 1098 vo- 
lumes in the libraries. 

Cattaraugus, — 50 schools, 300 teachers, 1500 scholars, 1550 
volumes in the libraries. 

Chautauque, — 54 schools, 432 teachers, 2573 scholars. 

Erie, — 50 schools, 420 teachers, 2618 scholars, 2122 volumes in 
the libraries. 



BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATIONS. 



263 



Genesee, — 162 schools, 810 teachers, 5670 scholars. 

Livingston, — 86 schools, 515 teachers, 3380 scholars, 1650 vo- 
lumes in the libraries. 

Monroe, — -82 schools, 927 teachers, 4798 scholars, 5897 volumes 
in the libraries. 

Niagara, — 34 schools, 214 teachers, 1818 scholars, 1359 volumes . 
in the libraries. 

Ontario, — 107 schools, 845 teachers, 4526 scholars. 

Orleans, — 23 schools, 282 teachers, 1567 scholars, 1580 volumes 
in the libraries. 

Steuben, — 100 schools, 400 teachers, 3500 scholars. 

Wayne, — 53 schools, 450 teachers, 2615 scholars/ 

Yates, — 42 schools, 1900 scholars. 

The Episcopalians and Methodists generally stood aloof from 
the Union. Their schools, therefore, were not embraced in this 
report. In addition to the above enumerated items, the report 
states that among the teachers and scholars more than four hundred 
hopeful conversions had occurred. The receipts at the treasury of 
the Society for the previous year amounted to the sum of four 
thousand two hundred and fifteen dollars and twenty-eight cents, 
and the disbursements to the sum of four thousand two hundred 
and fifty-seven dollars, and forty-eight cents. In the other parts of 
Western New York in the Presbyterian Church, the Sabbath 
school cause was, probably, equally progressive. In all the other 
benevolent enterprises of the day, the Presbyterian Church in 
Western New York has taken a deep interest, especially in the 
cause of temperance. Almost all the ministers and members of 
the churches are enrolled members of Temperance Societies, and 
practise on the principle of total abstinence as a beverage from all 
intoxicating liquors. 



264 



CHAPTER XXI. 

Biographical Notices of Deceased Ministers. — Rev. Jedidiah Chapman : Rev. David 
Higgins: Rev. Henry Axtell, D.D. : Rev. Matthew L. R. Perrine, D.D. : Rev. 
Ebenezer Fitch, D.D. : Rev. James Richards, D.D. : Rev. Beriah Hotchkin. 

We have in different parts of this work noticed the labors and 
character of several deceased ministers, whose exertions have been 
instrumental in raising Western New York to its present state of 
moral culture and religious prosperity. We might notice many 
more who had lived, and labored, and died on this field, and 
whose memory is embalmed in the hearts of survivors. But with 
respect to most of them the acquaintance of the author is not suf- 
ficiently minute to enable him to give their biography, nor will the 
limits of this work permit it. A few only will be noticed in this 
chapter. 

Rev. Jedid[ah Chapman. — If the writer has been correctly in- 
formed, Mr. Chapman was born at Chatham, in the State of Con- 
necticut, in the year 1741. Respecting his youthful appearance 
the writer has no information. He received his first degree at 
Yale College, in 1762, and soon afterwards was licensed to preach 
the gospel, but by what ecclesiastical body is not known to the 
writer. It is supposed that soon after his license he was ordained, 
and installed pastor of the Presbyterian church of Orangedale, in 
New Jersey, where he continued to perform the duties of the 
pastoral office till 1799 or 1800. In the last named year he re- 
moved his family to Geneva, in Western New York, having 
received an appointment from the General Assembly of the 
Presbyterian Church, to labor as a missionary one half of the time 
for four years in the frontier settlements. It was also made a part 
of his duty to make himself acquainted with the whole field, to 
communicate information to the Assembly, and to exercise a super- 
intendence over the whole missionary concerns of the Assembly, 
in the region of Western New York. His missionary appoint- 
ments were renewed from year to year, for periods varying from 
two to six months, to the time of his death. That portion of the 
time not spent in missionary service, was employed principally in 
ministering to the congregation of Geneva, which was then dis- 
persed over a large extent of territory. On the eighth day of 
July, 1812, in connexion with Rev. Henry Axtel, he was installed, 
by the Presbytery of Geneva, collegiate pastor of the church and 
congregation of Geneva, a relation which was dissolved by his 
decease, May 22d, 1813. Mr. Chapman, at the time of his decease, 
was seventy-two years of age, and had entered upon the fifty- 



BIOGRAPHY. 



265 



second year of his ministry. The Sabbath previous to his departure 
he had preached to the people of his charge ; and thus his active 
ministry terminated only with his life. 

Mr. Chapman was an active, laborious minister, whether en- 
gaged in the duties of the pastor, or the more laborious ones of a 
missionary in the wilderness. In the latter employment he some- 
times suffered severely in fulfilling engagements previously made. 
As a specimen we may take an extract from his Journal, under 
date of Dec. 23d, 1803: "I rode to Ovid about twenty-four miles 
in a most dreadful storm of hail and rain. My course was in the 
face of the wind, and before I had gone two miles my cloak was 
frozen so stiff with ice that it would have stood up." As a mis- 
sionary he was permitted to see the fruit of his labor in the con- 
version of souls, and their ingathering into the visible fold of 
Christ. A number of churches were gathered by him, and nursed 
with the affection of a pastor for a number of years. He was a 
man of ardent piety, of pure morals, urbane in his manners, sound 
in the faith, instructive in his preaching, possessing a highly cul- 
tivated mind, and an acceptable mode of address, though not an 
orator in the ordinary acceptation of the term. In his theological 
views he embraced what at that day was denominated the system 
of the New School. He was very far from being a bigot. He 
labored with all his powers to effect a complete union between the 
Presbyterian and Congregational Churches in Western New York, 
and lived to see it accomplished. He possessed a sound judgment, 
and stood high in the estimation of his brethren. As indicative of 
the confidence placed in him, and the estimation in which he was 
held, it may be noted that at the meeting of the Synod of New 
York and Philadelphia, in 1787, he was elected moderator of the 
Synod, and the next year preached the sermon at the opening of 
the meeting. The Synod at that period represented the whole 
body of Presbyterians in the United States. When the Synod of 
Albany was set off from the Synod of New York and New Jer- 
sey. Mr. Chapman was appointed to open the first meeting with a 
sermon, and preside until a moderator was chosen. His appoint- 
ment as a permanent missionary with a general supervision of mis- 
sionary concerns, is highly indicative of the confidence placed in 
his judgment, integrity, and diligence. It may truly be said of 
him, that he was "accepted of the multitude of his brethren, 
seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his 
seed." 

REV. DAVID HIGGINS. 

Rev. David Higgins was born at Haddam, in the State of Con- 
necticut, August 6th, 1761. He was early taught the truths and 
duties of Christianity, but these instructions, he says, made but a 



266 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



faint impression on his mind till he was about eighteen years of 
age. His opportunities for school education in childhood were but 
scanty. Three months in the year was generally the extent of the 
term in which a district school was taught, and he had to experi- 
ence days, and sometimes weeks, of intermission in the course of 
the term, being called off to attend to domestic concerns, or the 
business of the farm. 

"In 1779," Mr. Higgins says, "as well as I can remember, some 
of the Christian people living about my father's agreed and set up 
a prayer meeting or religious conference. The time of the meet- 
ing was spent in reading the Scriptures, prayer, singing, exhorta- 
tion, and reading sermons. At one of these meetings a sermon of 
President Davies' was read. The text, 2 Cor. iv. 18, ' While we 
look, not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are 
not seen ; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things 
which are not seen are eternal? The attempted description of 
eternity had a powerful effect on my mind, which continued for 
some weeks. Truth, applied by the Holy Spirit, produced a strong 
conviction. A sense of sin and guilt grew more and more deep 
and pungent. I had such an overwhelming sense of the evil of sin, 
-that appetite was, in a measure, destroyed ; sleep was taken away. 
The Bible was read daily, and frequently every day, and so atten- 
tive was I to the Scriptures, that parts of the Bible were usually 
carried with me in my pocket into the field, to which I adverted at 
every leisure moment. Prayer with me was a new business, but 
no opportunity for the duty w T as suffered to pass without the at- 
tempt. Retirement, as to place and season for prayer, was care- 
fully sought. I strove to conceal my feelings of concern from 
others, even from the family ; but the state of my mind was soon 
discovered, and I was numbered among the awakened. The 
divine law appeared just and right, but my feelings were opposed 
to it because it condemned me. I found that sin stained and 
polluted all my motives and exercises. It appeared an evil which 
God abhorred and must punish. Such a sight of sin and such a 
weight of guilt lay upon my mind and pressed my conscience, that 
I wished myself a brute, nay, annihilated. I sought relief by dis- 
puting the truth and authenticity of the Bible. I called in question 
the origin, the existence of God, the immortality of the soul, and 
the accountability of man. For three or four weeks, I waded 
through these deep waters of distress and difficulty. I had to meet 
many temptations and encounter many assaults and allurements of 
the enemy. I tried to make my heart better, and patch up a 
righteousness of my own that would give me relief and peace : all 
of which I found to be perfectly in vain. At times I was ready to 
resolve all into fatality, and take no more concern on the subject : 
but this was impossible. I was envious at good people ; thought 
God was partial, unjust, severe. Wearisome days and nights were 



BIOGRAPHY. 



267 



appointed me. I could ask for mercy in my own language, but 
not with submission. On a day, when busily at work alone in the 
field, my mind deeply occupied and involved'on the subject of my 
salvation from my present state of woful distress, I looked on the 
works of God around me ; I considered the course of his operations ; 
I thought of the wonders revealed in his word ; I looked at the 
character and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, his love in giving 
himself for the world, and the way of salvation through his power 
and grace. On such contemplations I had spent some hours of the 
afternoon. My mind had been withdrawn from thinking on my 
own condition, not inquiring whether I was going to heaven or 
hell. In the course of this scene of meditation, such serenity per- 
vaded my mind, such harmony appeared in all the works and ways 
of God, such fitness and beauty in the character and work of the 
Lord Jesus Christ, that I was in a great measure abstracted from 
myself, and wholly involved in the sublime and pleasing subject. 
I "had understood that a new heart, a change of character, was 
essential in experimental religion ; but it never came into my mind 
at the time that this could be that change. It was some days be- 
fore I could persuade myself that I had passed from death unto life. 
For two or three weeks I could not believe a change was wrought ; 
the blessing was so great, and my own sin and ill desert were so 
appalling. Those words of the Saviour I read, and they seemed 
to be appropriate— While ye have the light, believe in the light, 
that ye may be the children of light.'' By and by hope began to 
dawn, and it operated like the dawning light of the morning." 

Such is the account which Mr. Higgins gives of his transition 
from a state of nature to a state of grace. Some time in the autumn 
of that year, he made a public profession of religion, and joined the 
church in Haddam, under the pastoral care of Rev. Eleazar May. 
In the spring of 1780, he commenced the study of the Latin lan- 
guage under the tuition of Mr. May, for the purpose of preparing 
to enter college, having the gospel ministry in view, and in the 
month of November, 1781, he was admitted a member of the Fresh- 
man class in Dartmouth College. Here he continued somewhat 
more than two years, and then changed his relation to Yale Col- 
lege, where he graduated in September, 1785. With respect to his 
support while at Dartmouth College, he says, " I ; did considerable 
towards my support, by labor, — by sawing lumber, by tending 
ferry, and I can look back to the two years which I spent at Dart- 
mouth among the happiest portions of my life." 

With respect to engaging in the work of the ministry, he ob- 
serves,— "I had ever thought the work of the ministry a solemn and 
arduous business ; that the man who well and faithfully performed 
the work, was truly a happy man ; but he who was lazy, unfaith- 
ful, and regarding the fleece more than the flock, was a despicable 
and wretched man. Notwithstanding the magnitude of the work, 



.68 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



my intention had long been to study divinity, and preach the gos- 
pel." In the accomplishment of this object, Mr. Higgins, soon after 
he left college, went to reside with Dr. Smalley of New Britain, to 
study theology under his tuition, and at the same time, as a means 
of support, taught a district school. Here he continued till June, 
1780, when he was licensed to preach the gospel by Hartford South 
Association. Subsequent to his licensure, he spent several weeks 
in the study of theology with Dr. Lyman of Hatfield, Mass. After 
preaching for short terms in several places, he was invited by the 
people of North Lyme to preach to them with a view of settlement. 
He commenced his labors with them in April, 1787, and, on the 
17th day of October of that year, he was ordained and installed 
pastor of the church and congregation by an ecclesiastical council 
convened for the purpose In the latter part of the year 1792, and 
beginning of the next year, God was pleased to visit his congrega- 
tion with the special influences of his Spirit, and though the work 
was not great, some souls were hopefully converted unto God. In 
1794, he performed a missionary tour of four months' continuance, 
in the service of the Connecticut Missionary Society, to the new 
settlements in New Hampshire and Vermont. In June, 1801, the 
pastoral relation between him and the people of Lyme was dis- 
solved by mutual consent. In September of that year, he received 
an appointment from the Trustees of the Missionary Society of 
Connecticut, to go on a mission for four months to the new settle- 
ments in the State of New York. In fulfilment of this appointment, he 
went as far west as the Genesee river. After the close of his mis- 
sion, he preached for several months at Onondaga Hollow, East 
Bloomfield, and Aurelius, from each of which places he had a call 
to settle. He finally accepted the call from Aurelius, and in July, 
1802, removed his family from Connecticut, and settled them where 
the city of Auburn now stands. In September he was installed pastor 
of the church by an ecclesiastical council convened for the purpose. 
In 1808, the pastoral relation was dissolved, but Mr. Higgins con- 
tinued for a season to minister to the church of Auburn, which had 
been formed from the church of Aurelius. 

In Nov., 1812, he received a call from the congregation of Bath, 
to become their pastor. In January following he removed his family 
to Bath, and in July succeeding was installed as pastor of the church 
and congregation. Here he continued to labor from year to year 
with various degrees of success. He was encouraged and blessed 
with some seasons of special attention. In 1831, God visited the 
congregation with a revival of considerable extent, and as the re- 
sult, thirty-six united with the church. Previous to the commence- 
ment of this work of grace, revivals were frequent and powerful in 
Western New York. Some members of the congregation of Bath 
seemed to think that new measures and a new minister were essen- 
tially necessary to produce a revival of religion. They therefore 



BIOGRAPHY. 



269 



thought and said that they must dismiss their minister and get a new 
one. While this measure was under operation, Mr. Higgins con- 
tinued his usual course of services on the Sabbath, and weekly 
prayer meetings. At the opening of the spring there was increased 
solemnity throughout the congregation. This continued for several 
weeks. The presence of God was most manifest ; Christians were 
awake, and active, and prayerful ; sinners were thoughtful, and 
some inquiring what they must do to be saved. Under these cir- 
cumstances, a protracted meeting was proposed, and attended. It 
continued for several days, and during the course of it a considera- 
ble number were hopefully converted. In the course of a few 
weeks, from forty to fifty gave evidence of a saving change. 

On the twenty-first day of June, 1831, the pastoral relation be- 
tween Mr. Higgins and the congregation of Bath was dissolved by 
mutual consent. Mr. Higgins continued in this part of the country 
about four years after his dismission from Bath, during which period 
he preached regularly the most of the time. One year he preached 
at Painted Post, and was blessed with a gracious outpouring of the 
Spirit under his labors. For more than a year he preached at Ken- 
nedyville and Avoca, nearly a year at Big Flat, and occasionally 
.at other places. In May, 1835, he left Western New York with 
his family, and removed to Norwalk, in the State of Ohio. Mr. 
Higgins at this period was nearly seventy-four years of age. He 
considered himself too far advanced in life to take the charge of a 
church, but in consequence of the want of ministers in the region, 
he continued to preach most of the time for some years longer. He 
supplied for stated terms, at Norwalk, Milan, Huron, Brunson, Mon- 
roville, Peru, and Paris. For the two last years of his life, he 
preached only occasionally. 

On Sabbath, June 18th, 1842, in the morning Mr. Higgins com- 
plained of not being as well as usual, but attended public worship 
in the former part of the day. He came home after the service, 
conversed cheerfully, but concluded not to attend in the afternoon. 
After taking some refreshment, he sat in his arm-chair with his 
head resting on his study table. Mrs. Higgins noticed that he sank 
down. She spoke to him, but he did not answer. With the as- 
sistance of her daughter she laid him down ; he breathed a few 
times, and expired without any struggle or the least contraction of 
muscles. On Tuesday following, the precious remains were at- 
tended to the tomb by a large concourse of sympathizing spectators, 
and by most of the ministers in the vicinity. The Sabbath next 
ensuing, Rev. Alfred Newton, pastor of the church of Norwalk, 
preached a sermon with reference to the event from Genesis v. 24. 
" And Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God look him." 
Immediately after the funeral, the church of Norwalk met and 
adopted the following Preamble and Resolutions, viz. 

" Whereas it has pleased Almighty God in his wise Providence, 



270 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



to remove suddenly, by death, the Rev. David Higgins, thus de- v 
# priving his family of its head, this church of its counsellor and friend, 
and society of one of its useful and exemplary members : 

" Therefore, Resolved, in this severe dispensation of Divine Provi- 
dence, we deeply feel that the church has met with a great and ir- 
reparable loss, that w 7 e have been deprived of a spiritual father and 
guide, and that we shall long remember his many and affectionate 
counsels and instructions both in the pulpit and house of prayer, 
and trust that his holy example may ever serve as a light to lighten 
our path. It yet becomes us, as a church, while lamenting this sud- 
den bereavement, to humble ourselves under the exhibition of the 
mighty hand of God. 

" Resolved, That in consideration of the late interesting labors of 
the deceased with this church, and as an expression of our high es- 
timation of the Christian conduct and deportment, and of our respect 
for his memory, we will esteem it a great privilege to be permitted 
to defray the expenses of his funeral, and erect a monument over 
his remains." 

The Presbytery of Huron, of which he w T as a member, at their 
next meeting after his decease, expressed their high sense of his 
worth by the subjoined Preamble and Resolutions, viz. 

" Whereas God, in his wise and holy Providence, has suddenly 
removed by death our venerable and beloved father in Christ, the 
Rev. David Higgins, thereby depriving us of the light of his holy 
example, and the benefit of his judicious counsel : 

" Therefore, Resolved, That while we bow to the solemn Provi- 
dence, with resignation to the divine will, we do most deeply feel 
that we, as a Presbytery, have sustained a great loss in his death, 
and we are assured that the good influence which the deceased ex- 
erted in our ecclesiastical body, and in the churches under our care, 
while he continued to reside with us, will ever endear him to our 
memory. 

" Resolved, That we do most heartily sympathize with his afflict- 
ed family, who have thus been suddenly deprived of their head, and 
we do affectionately commend them to the grace of that God who 
was the hope and stay of their beloved father and guide." 



BIOGRAPHY. 



271 



REV. DAVID HIGGINS 
Dkb lune 10, 

In the 81 st year of his age, 
And the 55th of his Ministry. 



AS A PREACHER HE WAS 
SOLID AND INSTRUCTIVE, AS A 
PASTOR DEVOTED AND FAITHFUL, 
AS A CHRISTIAN CONSISTENT 
AND HUMBLE. 



Servant of God, well done, 
Rest from thy loved employ ; 

The battle fought, the victory won, 
Enter thy Master's joy. 



Erected by the First Presbyterian Church in Norwalk. 

REV. HENRY AXTELL, D.D. 

Dr. Axtell was born at Morristown, in the State of New Jer- 
sey, in the year 1784. Of his childhood and youth, the writer has 
no information. He was educated at Nassau Hall College, and 
received his first degree in 1796. At what period in life Dr. Ax- 
tell's mind became religiously disposed is not known to the writer. 
After leaving college he spent a number of years in teaching the 
sciences, for which employment he was well qualified, and in which 
he was successful, and highly approved. He removed his family 
from New Jersey and took up his residence in Geneva, where for 
a season he was employed in teaching a select school. But this 
employment, though useful in a high degree, was not sufficient to 
satisfy his mind. He ardently desired to engage in the work of 
preaching the gospel of salvation to his dying fellow-men. With 
this object in view, he pursued a course of Theological study under 
the direction of Rev. Jedidiah Chapman, and was licensed by the 
Presbytery of Geneva to preach the gospel as a probationer, Nov. 
1st, 1810. After his licensure he preached for short periods at differ- 
ent places, but the attention of the congregation of Geneva, where he 
had resided for several years in the capacity of a teacher of science, 
was turned to him as a suitable person to sustain the relation of 



272 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



pastor to them. Up to this period the church of Geneva had never 
had a regularly installed pastor. Mr. Chapman had resided in the 
village, performed missionary labor a part of the time, and minis- 
tered to the congregation of Geneva on annual agreements for the 
remaining part. In 1812, Messrs. Chapman and Axtell were by a 
unanimous vote invited to become co-pastors of the church and 
congregation, and on the twelfth day of July of that year, Mr. 
Axtell was ordained by the Presbytery of Geneva to the office of 
the ministry, and, in connexion with Mr. Chapman, installed pastor 
of the church. In this connexion, he continued for a period of 
almost seventeen years, till Feb. 11th, 1829, when the relation was 
dissolved by his death, at the age of forty-five years. At the 
period of his entrance into the ministerial office, he was of mature 
age and understanding, and well prepared for the work upon which 
he was entering. His piety was clear, consistent, and uniform ; 
and his understanding vigorous and discriminating. In his theo- 
logical views he was strictly Calvinistic according to the system 
held by those in the Presbyterian church, then denominated the 
New School. He loved the doctrines of that system, and was 
faithful in his exhibitions of them in his public preaching. Such 
was the plainness of speech with which he addressed sinners in his 
public ministrations, that some of his hearers were offended and 
called it "scolding." The writer does not believe that there was 
any ground for such a charge. Dr. Axtell was plain and earnest, 
but always appeared in his preaching to be of a right spirit, and 
never descended to coarseness and vulgarity. In the performance 
of pastoral duties he was diligent and laborious, and on this account 
was greatly beloved by the pious portion of his charge. He was 
most acceptable to his brethren in the ministry, punctual in his 
attendance on the meetings of the judicatories of the church, and 
esteemed as a wise counsellor in all subjects of difficulty which 
came before them. The honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity 
was conferred upon him by the Trustees of Hamilton College. He 
felt a deep interest in revivals of religion, and in his own congre- 
gation, besides witnessing every year during his ministry some 
additions to the number of Christ's professed followers, he had the 
happiness to enjoy two memorable seasons of revival among the 
people of his charge ; the first in 1819, when nearly one hundred 
members were added to the church on their profession of faith ; 
the other in 1825, when a still larger number took the vows of God 
upon them. A short time previous to his departure he was attacked 
with bleeding at the lungs. This continued at intervals for a short 
period, and terminated his useful life on earth on the eleventh day 
of February, 1829. Respecting the manner of his death as it 
respects his mental views, the writer is not distinctly informed, any 
further than that he died in the full enjoyment of the Christian's 
hope. 



BIOGRAPHY. 



273 



REV. MATTHEW L. R. PERRINE. 

Dr. Perrine was born in the town and county of Monmouth in 
the State of New Jersey, May 4th, 1777, where his earlier days 
were passed. Having completed his preparation, he was received 
as a member of Nassau Hall College, and was graduated there in 
September, 1797. He studied theology with the late Rev. Dr. 
Woodhull, of Monmouth, and was licensed to preach as a proba- 
tioner by the Presbytery of New Brunswick early in 1800. In 
May of the same year he was appointed by the General Assembly 
a missionary for four months, with instructions to commence his 
mission at Wilksbarre on the Susquehannah river, and proceed up 
that river and the Tioga to Painted Post and Bath, and thence 
through the Genesee country and Military Tract to Fort Stanwix. 
This appointment he fulfilled, having, as the writer believes, re- 
ceived ordination as an evangelist previous to its commencement. 
In 1804, under a similar appointment, he performed a missionary 
tour of three months, mostly in Western New York. In 1802 he 
was installed pastor of the church in Bottle-Hill, N. Y., where he 
continued in the ministry about nine years. The blessing of God 
attended his labors, and many precious souls were brought into the 
kingdom through his instrumentality. In the autumn of 1811, he 
was removed from this charge and installed first pastor of the 
Spring Street Presbyterian church in the city of New York, Oct. 
31st. This church had then recently been formed. He was dis- 
missed in June, 1820. He was elected, May 2d, 1821, Professor of 
Ecclesiastical History and Church Polity in the Theological Semi- 
nary of Auburn, and was inaugurated July 10th, 1821, at the very 
commencement of the Institution. In this station he continued to 
the time of his decease, which occurred Feb. 11th, 1836. The 
duties of this professorship he discharged with singular fidelity, and 
with great profit to the pupils, by whom he was greatly beloved 
and respected. For about two years from the commencement of 
the Institution, Dr. Perrine, in addition to the duties of his appro- 
priate professorship, performed those of the Professorship of Didac- 
tic Theology. Some time previous to his election to the professor- 
ship he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Meadville 
college in the State of Pennsylvania. 

, Doctor Richards, in his sermon preached on occasion of the 
funeral of Dr. Perrine, says of him, " There was a uniform simpli- 
city as well as kindness about him, which attracted the regard and 
secured the confidence, not of his Christian friends alone, but of 
the community at large. Though noiseless and unpretending in 
his manner, he possessed a sound and vigorous understanding, well 
cultivated by study. Fond of investigation, he brought a sober and 
logical mind to the examination of every question, and pursued his 
inquiries with care, precision, and effect, and whatever was the 

18 



274 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



result of his inquiries, he did not press his opinions unkindly and 
ungraciously upon others, or persecute those who dissented from 
him. He was naturally kind and yielding in his intercourse with 
his brethren ; though always ready to act at the call of duty, and 
to make those sacrifices which his duty seemed to demand. Justly 
may it be said, that his course has been happy and useful. In all 
the relations he sustained, he acted with wisdom and fidelity, and 
left impressions favorable to the powers of his mind and the feel- 
ings of his heart. As a preacher he was able and evangelical. 
Those who have listened to his soft and mellifluous voice, can bear 
witness to the clearness of his conceptions, to the ingenuity and 
accuracy of his method, and, more than all, to the justness, the 
piety, and the usefulness of his sentiments. He thought much of 
Christ ; and to exhibit and magnify him was a leading feature in 
his public discourses. 

" From the conscientious, humble, and uniform tenor of his life, it 
was to be expected that he would not be deserted by his Saviour 
in his last moments ; and the fact corresponded with our expecta- 
tions. Different degrees of light were afforded him in the various 
periods of his illness. But as his last hour approached, his faith 
was increased, and his hopes strengthened. At all times he ap- 
peared to cleave w T ith confidence to the joyful truth, that the Lord 
reigns, and subjects to the control of his providence the minutest 
events of our lives. It gratified his soul to think that his all was in 
the hand of God ; and that, whether he should send life or death, 
all would be well. But, towards the last, a brighter beam was 
made to fall upon his eye. Now he could apprehend with more 
distinctness, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the sole and the all-sufficient 
ground of his acceptance with God. On him he was enabled to 
rely for forgiveness of sin and life everlasting. Now the first prin- 
ciples of Christianity were to him the best principles too ; they 
were all his salvation and all his desire. In the closing part of the 
afternoon preceding his death, while three of his brethren, members 
of the faculty, were standing around his bed, he expressed his con- 
fidence in the divine Saviour, in nearly the following words, doing- 
it with great solemnity, as if he wished to give them both his creed 
and his heart in this interesting moment. ' The Lord Jesus Christ 
is the true God. He is my God. In him is all my trust. Through 
him I have a good hope.' He regarded himself, doubtless, as in the 
article of death, when he pronounced this language. In the pro- 
gress of the evening, and about half an hour before the scene was 
closed, as the springs of life were gradually ebbing away, he re- 
peated his request for prayer. But not with supplication merely 
was he content ; with this alone he had too much of the spirit of 
heaven to be satisfied. Not to pray with him merely, but to praise 
with him also, was the purport of his request. To the brother who 
was to lead their devotions, he said, Thank and praise the Lord, as 



BIOGRAPHY. 



275 



well as pray to him. Praise him for all his mercies. Praise him 
for the good and comfortable hope, which, in this trying moment, he 
hath imparted to my soul. In this state of mind, serene and tran- 
quil, he breathed out his spirit into the bosom of his Redeemer. 
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright ; for the end of that 
man is peace.'''' , 

REV. EBENEZER FITCH, D.D. 

Doctor Fitch was born at Norwich, in the State of Connecticut, 
Sept. 26th, ] 756. In his infantile years he was of very feeble con- 
stitution, and but little hope was entertained by his parents that he 
would live to mature years ; but by degrees he outgrew this natu- 
ral weakness, and his feeble constitution grew firmer and healthier. 
He w 7 as probably put to study at an early period, and enjoyed all 
the advantages for improvement which that period afforded. In 
the year 1773, he was admitted a member of Yale College of the 
Freshman Class, and graduated in 1777. The last year of his col- 
legiate life, the College was broken up on account of the Revolu- 
tionary war. The several classes were in different parts of the 
country studying under their respective tutors. The senior class 
of which young Fitch w T as a member, spent the summer in 
Wethersfield under the instruction of Dr. T. Dwight, their tutor, 
afterwards President of Yale College. 

" While a member of College," says his biographer, " President 
Fitch excelled in every department of study, and was highly 
esteemed for his blameless and gentlemanly deportment." He 
spent about two years at New Haven, after receiving his first 
degree in the capacity of a resident Graduate, diligently pursuing 
his studies, and afterwards spent nearly a year in teaching a select 
school in Hanover, N. J. 

In the autumn of 1780, Mr. Fitch was admitted to the degree 
of Master of Arts, and appointed a Tutor in Yale College, the 
duties of which office he performed for three years, and then re- 
signed. He then engaged in a mercantile employment, the result 
of which was unfortunate in a pecuniary point of view, and the 
connexion w r as discontinued. In 1786 he was re-elected to the 
office of Tutor in Yale College, and performed the duties of senior 
Tutor and Librarian till 1791, an employment much more con- 
genial to his taste and capacity, than the business of merchandise. 
A number of distinguished characters in the United States, who 
were under his tuition a part of this period, have spoken of him in 
high terms of approbation, as an instructor and assistant in the 
government of the College. He was, however, more distinguished 
for his moral worth, than for high literary attainments. Dr. Fitch 
was, at a very early period of his life, a subject of deep serious 
feeling, and was, probably, savingly converted to God when he 



276 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



was about fifteen years of age. Though it does not appear that 
he had at that time any apprehension of his good estate, or entertain- 
ed a hope of his interest in the Saviour. Still from a journal which 
he kept, he evidently, in describing his own feelings, delineates 
those of the Christian. He seems, also, through the whole period 
of his collegiate life, to have had the gospel ministry in view, as 
his desirable future employment. On the sixteenth of July, 1775. 
which appears to have been on the Sabbath, the following entry is 
found in his journal : — " I have determined by divine assistance 
to pursue the following course : — 

" As the care of my soul is of the first importance, and yet the 
most likely to be neglected by me, I will, by the assistance of 
divine grace, for the future be more attentive to my spiritual wel- 
fare. And, 1st. I will have stated seasons for prayer, reading the 
Scriptures and practical authors, for meditating on what I read^ 
and for self-examination. 2d. I will endeavor to maintain a sober, 
steady, and regular course of conduct. 3d. In my intercourse with 
friends I will make subjects of divinity the themes of conversation, in 
all cases where it can be done to mutual edification. 4th. I will 
endeavor to read a portion of Scripture every morning and even- 
ing. 5th. I will aim so to behave towards my friends as to merit 
their regard and esteem ; and I will strive to banish all envious and 
jealous thoughts towards them, and towards all mankind." 

On the 17th of December, 1776, we find in his journal the follow- 
ing entry : " Had some hope that I should yet be made a monu- 
ment of redeeming grace, and serve God in the work of the 
ministry." This extract proves that the work of the ministry was 
the great object of his desire, and also that he did not at that time 
deem himself a regenerate character. 

On the 6th of May, 1787, Mr. Fitch made a public profession of 
religion, and was admitted as a member of the College church. The 
same month, viz. May 27th, 1787, he received his license to preach 
the gospel from the Association of New Haven West. He con- 
tinued in the duties of his office as Tutor of College, till some time 
in the year 1791, when he was transferred to Williamstown, Mass. r 
and assumed the duties of Preceptor of the Academy in that town. 
In June, 1793, the Academy received a charter of incorporation as 
a College, by the name of Williams College, and in August of that 
year, Mr. Fitch w r as elected its President, and in October following 
the College was fully organized by the admission of three small classes.. 

On the 17th day of June, 1795, Mr. Fitch was ordained as a 
minister of the gospel by the Berkshire Association. The honorary 
degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him in 3 800, by 
the Trustees of Harvard University. The author of a Memoir of 
Dr. Fitch truly says, — "Williams College came into existence in 
a great measure by the wise and persevering efforts of President 
Fitch, and prospered greatly under his influence and supervision. 



BIOGRAPHY. 



277 



From an humble beginning it was raised, chiefly by his instrumen- 
tality, to a station of high and acknowledged respectability and 
usefulness. For a series of years it continued to advance with 
accelerated progress in usefulness and reputation. Such was the 
rapidity of its growth, and its almost unexampled prosperity, that 
at one period of Dr. Fitch's presidency, it enrolled upon its annual 
catalogue about 140 students. It was resorted to from all parts of 
Mew England and New York." 

Dr. Fitch, as President of the College, ever manifested a deep 
-solicitude for the spiritual interests of his pupils ; and during the 
period of his presidency, a number of very interesting revivals of 
religion in the College took place. He continued in the Presidency, 
discharging the duties of the office with great fidelity, during the 
period of twenty-two years. He resigned his office in 1615, and 
thus terminated his connexion with literary institutions. 

The summer preceding his resignation of the presidency of the 
College, he spent, with the consent of the College Corporation, in 
Western New York, preaching under a commission as a missionary 
<*f the Berkshire and Columbia Missionary Society. During this 
period he received an invitation from the Congregation of W est 
Bloomfield to return and settle with them as their Pastor. On his 
resignation of the presidency, he immediately removed his family 
to West Bloomfield, and on the 29th day of November, 1815, he 
was installed Pastor of the Church and Congregation of West 
Bloomfield, by the Presbytery of Geneva, to which ecclesiastical 
judicatory he had previously attached himself. At this period he 
was nearly sixty years old, and began in some measure to feel the 
infirmities and decays of advancing years. He continued, how- 
ever, to discharge the varied duties of the pastoral office with great 
fidelity, and with a good degree of success for a period of about 
twelve years. He was dismissed from his pastoral relation to the 
Church and Congregation of West Bloomfield, on his own request 
and with the consent of his people, by the Presbytery of Ontario, 
with which ecclesiastical judicatory he and his church were con- 
nected, and on Sabbath, November 25th, 1827, he preached his fare- 
well sermon from Acts xx. 32 — And now, brethren, I commend 
you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you 
up, and to give you an inheritance among all them who are sanc- 
tified." 

At the time of Dr. Fitch's installation, the church of West Bloom- 
field consisted of forty-eight members. During the period of his 
ministry, 190 persons were received as members, of whom 145 were 
admitted on profession of their faith. At his dismission the church 
contained 133 members, of whom twenty were at such a distance 
as to be unable to attend the meetings of the church. 

After his dismission, Dr. Fitch continued to reside on his farm in 
West Bloomfield, and to preach occasionally till within a short time 



278 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



of his death. He was troubled with an asthmatic affection, which; 
at times was distressing, but ordinarily he was comfortable, relished 
his food, and enjoyed the society of his family and friends. His 
mind was calm, and his confidence in God unshaken. His thoughts 
were much on the things of religion. On Thursday, March 21st„ 
1833, he appeared much as usual in the former part of the day„ 
After dinner he said he would lie down ; while Mrs. Fitch was ad- 
justing the bed-clothes, he having laid himself upon the bed, he 
raised himself upon his elbows, and was struggling for breath. In 
a few moments he breathed his last. Thus died the venerable Dr. 
Fitch at the advanced age of near seventy-seven years. 

The next Sabbath his remains were borne to the house of God, and 
an impressive sermon from the text, Romans viii. 28 — " And we 
know that all things work together for good to them that love God" 
was preached by Rev. Julius Steele, to a very crowded assembly., 

REV. JAMES RICHARDS, D.D. 

As an excellent Memoir of Dr. Richards, prefixed to his Lectures 
on Mental Philosophy and Theology, has been lately published, it 
may be deemed unnecessary to say anything of him in this work. 
But, as his name has been for a period of twenty years identified 
with the history of Western New York, and as that portion of 
country, under God, owes so much of its religious prosperity to his 
able and judicious labors, it is judged expediennt to introduce a 
brief memoir of this truly great and good man. 

Dr. Richards was born at New Canaan, in the State of Connec- 
ticut, October 29th, 1767. His parents were persons of piety, and 
used their endeavors to bring up their children in the fear of God ; 
and it is noticeable that their son James was the subject of strong 
religious impressions at the early period of eight years, and at the 
age of eleven was thought by some to have been a subject of the. 
new birth, though it would seem afterwards that this was not the 
case. In early childhood he was feeble in body, and on that ac- 
count incapable, at times, of intense mental application. He, how- 
ever, manifested a fondness for books and study, and, according to 
the advantages which he enjoyed made great proficiency in learn- 
ing, so that at the age of thirteen years he was employed as the 
teacher of a district school, and in this employment gave such satis- 
faction that he was requested to engage in the same school for a 
second term. His father not being prepared to indulge him in his 
desire for a liberal education, he was engaged as an apprentice to a 
cabinet and chair-maker, and in this employment he continued till 
1786. In that year, being eighteen years old, the gospel came to 
his soul with a divine energy, and he was made to feel it to be " the 
power of God unto salvation." His convictions were clear and 
distinct, and the change in his views of the way of salvation, in the 



BTOGRAPHY. 



219 



affections of his heart towards God and divine things, and in the 
governing purpose of his life and the tenor of his conversation, was 
strongly marked. 

His hopeful conversion was soon followed by an open profession 
of religion, and his union with the visible church. He united with 
the Congregational Church in Stamford, Sept. 17, 1786. From the 
period of his conversion he manifested an ardent desire to promote 
the salvation of the souls of his dying fellow men, addressing them 
personally on the things which concern salvation, and speaking on 
those things in social meetings for conference and prayer. At the 
same time an earnest desire to be employed in the work of the 
gospel ministry sprang up in his heart, and became the determined 
purpose of his soul. The master to whom he was indented generously 
gave up his indentures, and he commenced his preparation for a 
collegiate course of education, under the tuition of Rev. Justus 
Mitchel, then pastor of the church of New Canaan. Notwithstand- 
ing interruptions by sickness and weakness of eyes, he prosecuted 
his studies with as great diligence as those interruptions permitted, 
and was admitted a member of the Freshman class in Yale College, 
in the autumn of 1789. His connexion with college was broken off 
at the close of the freshman year, in consequence of his inability 
to defray the current expenses of a college course. He however 
pursued Classical and Theological studies, under the tuition of Dr. 
Burnett, of Norwalk, and Dr. D wight, then of Greenfield, till 1793, 
when he was licensed to preach the gospel by the Association, in 
the Western District of Fairfield County, in the State of Connec- 
ticut. The next year he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts 
from the corporation of Yale College. 

Dr. Richards seems to have entered upon the work of preaching 
the gospel with very serious and solemn consideration of its im- 
portance, and of his need of divine aid to enable him to discharge 
its duties. In a manuscript found among his private papers, and 
recording his solemn covenant with God, he declares his resolution 
to be faithful in all the relative duties incumbent on him, and parti- 
cularly in the discharge of the duties of a gospel minister — preach- 
ing the word of God in all its purity and extent, and serving the 
Lord with all humility and patience, that, by meekness, gentleness, 
and love unfeigned, he might win others to the gospel of Christ. 

In May, 1794, Dr. Richards was invited to supply the congrega- 
tion of Morristown, in the State of New Jersey, which invitation 
he accepted, and commenced his labors with that congregation 
soon afterwards, and continued as a stated supply till May 1st, 1797, 
when he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry by the 
Presbytery of New York, and installed colleague pastor with 
Dr. Johnes of the congregation of Morristown. In this relation 
Dr. Richards continued, to the mutual satisfaction and benefit both 
' of himself and the people of his charge, till 1809, when he received 



280 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



and accepted a call from the congregation of Newark to become 
their pastor. Accordingly he was dismissed from his pastoral 
charge of the congregation of Morristown, and installed pastor of 
the congregation of Newark. During his connexion with the con- 
gregation of Morristown, three extensive revivals of religion in the 
town were enjoyed under his preaching, during which many souls 
were manifestly born of God. 

At Newark the labors of Dr. Richards must have been arduous. 
There was at that period but one Presbyterian church in the place, 
and, besides the duties of the pastoral relation with his own people, 
much of the general labor required in promoting the interests of 
the church was thrown upon him. His life was anything but a life 
of ease and indolence. His public labors were abundant, and in 
all things he was faithful to the interests of his Master's kingdom. 

Dr. Richards continued as pastor of the First Presbyterian 
church of Newark till 1823, when he was called to a still more 
responsible station, that of Professor of Christian Theology in the 
Theological Seminary of Auburn. While laboring in the pastoral 
office at Newark, Dr. Richards had the most indubitable evidence 
that his labor was not in vain in the Lord. Several memorable 
periods of revival were enjoyed, and during the period of his 
ministry with that church, three hundred and thirty-two members 
were added to it on their profession of faith in Christ, besides nearly 
two hundred on letters of recommendation from other churches. 

Previous to Dr. Richards' leaving Newark, the high estimation 
in which he was held by the Christian public as a scholar, a divine, 
and a Christian, was manifested in a very strong point of light. In 
the year 1801, he received the degree of Master of Arts from the 
corporation of the College of Princeton, in New Jersey. In 1815, 
the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him, by the 
Colleges of Union and Yale. He was early elected a Trustee of 
the College of New Jersey, and retained the place till his removal 
from the State. In 1805, he was elected Moderator of the General 
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. In 1812, he was elected 
one of the Directors of the Theological Seminary of Princeton, a 
station which he held till his removal from the State. In Septem- 
ber, 1814, he preached the annual sermon before the American 
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, of which Board he 
was one of the corporate members from an early period, and in the 
success of which his heart was greatly engaged. For several 
years he served as Secretary of the Presbyterian Education Society, 
and his name was associated with nearly all the benevolent opera- 
tions of the day. 

Dr. Richards was inaugurated Professor of Christian Theology 
in the Seminary of Auburn, Oct. 29th, 1823. In this station he 
continued to the period of his decease, August 2d, 1843. In this 
new relation into which he was brought, the whole energy of his 



BIOGRAPHY. 



281 



vast mind was called into action. His duties were arduous, and 
his responsibilities great. The Seminary was then in its infancy, 
struggling for existence. Dr. Richards had to perform not only 
the duties of a teacher of Theology, but also those of a^ financier in 
sustaining the institution. In this latter department his vacations 
were mostly employed, and his exertions were crowned with suc- 
cess. Such was the confidence of the community in his integrity 
and soundness of judgment, that many, on his representation, were 
induced to contribute for its advancement, and through his instru- 
mentality, in a considerable degree, the Seminary was sustained 
and arose to its present state of prosperity. 

As a theologian Dr. Richards possessed a mind well stored with 
divine knowledge. His views were large and accurate, and ac- 
corded generally with those of Calvinian divines. The leading 
characters of the old school party would probably admit that he 
was substantially correct. His views generally accorded with 
those of Edwards and Witherspoon and Bellamy and Dwight. 
He considered these views as all-important, and nearly connected 
with Christian experience. As a teacher he- was able, lucid, and 
indefatigable. It was his aim to make his pupils able ministers of 
the New Testament ; not only sound theologians, but practical 
working men. He labored for their good, and they revered him 
as a father. The duties of his professorship were performed to the 
universal satisfaction of all who had any concern with the Semi- 
nary, and under his tuition a large number of young men were 
trained up to preach with efficacy the pure gospel of Jesus Christ. 
As a preacher Dr. Richards stood high in the estimation of the 
community. The many public occasions on which he w T as called 
to preach, are indicative of this. His sermons were characterized 
by their strength, correctness, order, pointedness, and practical 
bearing. His manner of delivery was earnest and solemn. As a 
Christian no one had any occasion to doubt his piety. He was 
fervent in spirit, consistent, and uniform, and he inculcated upon 
his pupils the vast importance of personal religion, and of cultivat- 
ing piety in their own hearts, in order to their usefulness as minis- 
ters of Christ's gospel. 

For two or three years before his death, it was evident that his 
strength w T as failing, and that the time of his departure was ap- 
proaching. He, however, with some few interruptions, continued 
to attend to the duties of his professorship almost to the last day ol 
his life. On Monday previous to his decease, his class, as usual, 
came in a body to his house to attend their recitation. He informed 
them that he was at that time unable to attend to them, and ex- 
pressed a hope that he should be able to meet them on the mor- 
row. But their beloved instructor was to meet them no more in 
that capacity. His work was done, and the Master was saying to 
him, " Come up higher." As the day declined, and w T hile con vers- 



282 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



ing with one of his colleagues, he was suddenly seized with a 
severe chill; strength failed him, and his whole aspect was changed. 
His articulation was interrupted, and he seemed to take little notice 
of things around him. His reason, however, continued, and he was 
able to signify that his hope was fixed on the Rock of Ages, At 
the breaking of the day on Wednesday morning, August 2d, 1843, 
his spirit took its flight for the better world. On Friday the fune- 
ral was attended by a large concourse of friends and citizens, in 
the second Presbyterian church of Auburn, and an appropriate 
sermon was delivered on the occasion by Dr. Mills, the oldest sur- 
viving Professor in the Seminary, from Acts xiii. 36 : " A fter he 
had served his own generation by the will of God [he] fell on 
sleepy 

The intelligence of the death of Dr. Richards produced a deep 
and painful sensation. The friends of the Seminary, and the 
Christian public at large, felt that a standard-bearer had fallen. At 
the next anniversary of the Seminary, the Board of Commissioners 
passed resolutions, which have been noticed in a former chapter. 
The Society of Alumni passed a resolution expressive of their deep 
veneration for his memory, and resolution to erect a suitable mo- 
nument in commemoration of the deceased. In pursuance of this 
resolution, a beautiful monument of the sarcophagus form was 
erected, on which was the following inscription : 

OF 

THE REV. JAMES RICHARDS, D.D. 

BORN IN NEW CANAAN, CONN., 
Oct. 29th, 1767, 

Ordained and Installed Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church 
in Morristown, N. J., 1794. 

Installed Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Newark, 

N. J., 1809. 

Inaugurated Professor of Christian Theology in the Theological 
Seminary of Auburn, N. Y., 1823. 

Died, August 2d, 1843. 

His Record is on High. 

The Alumni of the Seminary join with the Family of the deceased in 
erecting this Monument to departed worth. 



BIOGRAPHY. 



283 



REV. BERIAII HOTCHKIN. 

Although the subject of this notice was, for comparatively a 
short period, a laborer in Western New York, it is thought that a 
brief memoir of him will not be inappropriate or uninteresting to 
the reader. He was born in the town of Guilford, in the State of 
Connecticut, on the 27th day of March, O. S. 1752. His father 
was a respectable mechanic, and though not a member of a visible 
church, yet strongly attached to religious order, a serious believer 
of the great truths of the Christian system, and observant of the 
duties of family religion through life. His mother was a woman 
of strong intellectual powers, and of warm and consistent piety. 
A circumstance connected with his birth, which was not known to 
him till after he entered the ministry, we shall here relate in his 
own words. " The autumn before my birth, my parents had five 
children living. A disorder then common among children, known 
by the name of the black canker, came into their family, and all 
their children were taken with it in one day. Four of those chil- 
dren died within a few days of each other ; the oldest only sur- 
vived. Such an awful visitation, it might be reasonably expected, 
would deeply affect a pious mother. But the firmness with which 
she bore her trial was noticed by Christian people in general. 
Some months after the death of the children, in attending a sacra- 
mental occasion, she informed me, her heart was unusually drawn 
out in duty ; and in renewing her covenant with God she not only 
dedicated herself to him, but like Hannah, whose name she bore, 
she gave up her unborn child to God. She observed that if she 
ever acted the exercise of faith, she thought it was at that time." 
A short time after this event, the subject of this memoir was born. 

Mr. Hotchkin was early instructed by his pious mother respect- 
ing the truths and duties of religion, and enjoyed, in his childhood, 
the privilege of sitting under the ministry of Rev. James Sproat, 
at a subsequent period t)r. Sproat, pastor of the second Presby- 
terian church of Philadelphia. Dr. Sproat was a truly evangelical 
man, and his instructions had a very salutary effect on his youthful 
parishioner. From his earliest years Mr. Hotchkin was a subject 
of strong religious feeling, and the writer has no doubt that he was 
a subject of the new birth at a period earlier than that to which 
in mature age his memory extended. When he was past seventy 
years of age, he one day remarked to the writer that he had no 
knowledge of any day in the whole period of his life in which he 
had not in a serious manner attended on the duty of secret prayer. 
Under the influence of strong religious feeling he was preserved 
from those sins and follies to which childhood and youth are ex- 
posed, and in which many of them indulge to their ruin. He was 
early taught to read, was fond of reading, and before he was seven 
years old had read the Bible through in course. His reading .was 



284 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



all of a profitable kind ; much of it of a religious character, and 
he remembered what he read. From the period of his earliest 
recollection he entertained an ardent desire to obtain a collegiate 
education, that he might become a minister of the gospel ; but the 
temporal circumstances of his parents forbade their indulging him 
in this desire, and he was trained up to the employment of a tan- 
ner, currier, and shoemaker, in which employment he continued 
till he was past thirty years of age, and had a family consisting of 
a wife and three children. As to literary advantages he enjoyed 
no other than those which the common district school afforded. 
He says that his teacher was considerably above the grade of com- 
mon school teachers of that day, and that he took pains to improve 
his pupil to the utmost of his power. 

Mr. Hotchkin did not make a public profession of religion till 
within two or three years of the time when he became a preacher 
of the gospel. After the dismission of Dr. Sproat, the church in 
Guilford settled Rev. Daniel Brewer as their pastor, who after a 
season embraced the religious sentiments of Mr. Robert Sandeman, 
and drew off a number of his parishioners to his belief. Mr. 
Hotchkin says, " From the great zeal, apparent self-denial, and 
high profession of making the Scriptures the only rule of duty, I 
was led to form a very favorable opinion of that sect, and probably 
should have fallen in with them, had it not been for some important 
circumstances. On reading Mr. Sandeman's definition of faith, I 
found it consisted in a ^bare belief of the simple truths of the gos- 
pel.'' I could see no difference between this faith and the faith of 
devils. According to my belief it was essentially deficient, and 
lacked the main thing, namely, a hearty consent of the will to the 
truths believed. Another thing which tended to establish my mind 
was as follows : While I was reading Mr. Sandeman's letters on 
Theron and Aspasio, and my mind was deeply laboring, my mo- 
ther presented me with Edwards' Treatise on Religious Affections. 
This I read with greater care and attention than, perhaps, I ever 
should have done at any other period of my life. This produced 
full conviction in my mind of the nature of true religion, from 
which I have never deviated. I have great reason to bless God 
that I received that book at that time, and I trust that I shall never 
forget that providential occurrence." In the very diligent perusal 
of the Scriptures, together with the writings of President Edwards, 
and other writers of a similar stamp, Mr. Hotchkin became fully 
settled in his theological views, and was able to give a reason for 
his belief. 

In the year 1780, he removed from the town of Guilford and 
located his family in the town of Cornwall in the same State. 
Here he first made an open profession of religion, and united with 
the Congregational church under the care of Rev. John Cornwall. 
Soon after, he was elected a deacon of that church. Some minis- 



# 



BIOGRAPHY. 285 

ters belonging to the Morris County Associated Presbytery advised 
him to turn his attention to the ministry. He objected on the 
ground of his lack of such an education as was requisite to enable 
him to be useful in that employment. It was urged that the paucity 
of ministers, and the numerous destitutions, rendered it needful to 
bring into the work men of piety and soundness, though lacking in 
classical learning. His scruples were at length overcome, and he 
left his family for a season to study theology under the tuition of 
Rev. Amzi Lewis, then residing in Goshen, in the State of New 
York. He soon after received a license to preach from the minis- 
ters of the Morris County Associated Presbytery. On a visit to 
Guilford, his native town, he was invited to preach in the church 
connected with what was then denominated the Fourth Society, 
the church in which he was born, and baptized, and educated. 
The church had been for a long period without a minister. With- 
out any expectations of the kind on the part of Mr. Hotchkin, the 
church and society gave him a unanimous call to settle with them 
as their pastor. This call he accepted, and was ordained and 
installed pastor of the congregation, August 17th. 1785. Rev. 
Benjamin Trumbull, D.D., and Rev. Jonathan Edwards, D.D., were 
members of the ordaining council. Mr. Hotchkin continued to 
officiate as pastor of this church three or four years, and was then 
dismissed from his pastoral charge, the Society having become too 
weak in a pecuniary point of view to support a minister. 

Previous to Mr. Hotchkin's dismission from Guilford, a number 
of his parishioners had removed to the State of New York, and 
located themselves in the place which is now the town of Green- 
ville, in the county of Greene. In the probability of his being soon 
dismissed from Guilford, they had entreated him, in case such an 
event should occur, to make them a visit in the wilderness to which 
they were going. Accordingly he made them a visit in the spring of 
1789, and on a second visit the same summer, he received a unanimous 
call to settle with them as their spiritual pastor. To this call he 
responded an affirmative answer, and in September following re- 
moved his family to the place prepared for them. Greenville at 
that time, though but twelve miles west of the Hudson river, was 
considered as the " Far West." Very few inhabitants were to be 
found in the State of New York, westward of that place. It was 
then a new settlement with a sparse population, and mostly a fo- 
rest. Mr. Hotchkin was the only minister of the New England 
stamp west of the Hudson river, and north of the Pennsylvania 
line, and no church had as yet been formed. Soon after the 
removal of his family, a church was organized, consisting of four 
males and seven females. Mr. Hotchkin, speaking of his settle- 
ment in the State of New York, says : " 1 was now called not only 
to supply my own people, but to perform all ministerial services in 
the present towns of Greenville, Cairo, Durham, Windham, and 



288 WESTERN NEW YORK. 

Renssellaerville, as there was no minister of our order in any of 
those places. In addition to these services. I was obliged to labor 
with my hands almost steadily to procure a support for my family. 
I was often at a late hour in a dark night in the woods, some miles 
distant from my own house, with nothing but a small foot-path to 
travel in, being obliged to give myself wholly up to the direction of 
my horse which Providence had provided with better eyes than 
mankind. Though often exposed, and sometimes partially injured, 
yet I was always preserved, and never failed of getting to some 
shelter. Being much abroad in neighboring towns, and consequent- 
ly known wherever I went, I was always at home, and rarely 
found a family who did not appear willing to give me a meal of 
victuals or a night's lodging, if there was need of it." 

Mr. Hotchkin's ministry in Greenville continued till the year 
1824, at which period he was seventy-two years of age. He had 
at several times proposed a release from his pastoral charge, but 
his people would not give their consent. At this period, however, 
on his earnest entreaty, they yielded their consent, and he was 
released from his pastoral charge and removed to Western New 
York, where two of his three sons had long resided. During his 
connexion with the church of Greenville several seasons of revival 
had been enjoyed by the church, and it had increased from a very 
small number to a goodly flock. Its members were well indoc- 
trinated, at peace among themselves, and harmonious in. action. 
Mr. Hotchkin, in preaching, was not an orator, but, at the same 
time, he was earnest, solemn, and instructive. Though he lacked 
the classical education which would have been desirable, his lan- 
guage was far from vulgarity, and his good sense and other qualities 
rendered him an acceptable preacher to educated men, especially 
to those who were pious. In 1794, he received the degree of 
Master of Arts from Yale College, then under the presidency of 
Dr. Stiles. He was sound in the faith according to the Calvinistic 
system. Of human authorities, he undoubtedly considered Presi- 
dent Edwards as the highest, and among published books he ranked 
President Edwards' Treatise on Religious Affections as next in 
value to the Bible. He dwelt much in his preaching on those 
doctrines denominated Calvinian, and at the same time used such 
acceptable words, and preached in such a kind manner that he was 
revered and loved by those who were decidedly opposed to his 
system of faith. He was emphatically a peacemaker. He kept 
his own church in peace, and w T as much employed in composing 
differences which arose in neighboring churches. Such was the 
confidence reposed in his good sense, sound judgment, and entire 
honesty, that he was ordinarily successful. 

When Mr. Hotchkin removed to Western New York, though he 
was seventy-two years of age, his bodily powers were still vigor- 
. ous, but he considered himself too much advanced in years to have 



BIOGRAPHY. 



287 



the charge of a church, and expected to preach only occa- 
sionally. But on finding destitute churches, with no one to break 
unto them the bread of life, he could not refuse his aid. He preached 
one year alternately at Wheeler and Pulteney, and afterwards two 
years at Pulteney, where he had fixed his residence. In the autumn 
of 1827, in consequence of increasing infirmities, he informed the 
congregation of Pulteney that he could supply them no longer, and 
went to reside with his son at Prattsburgh. Here he occasionally 
preached till August, 1828. In that month he preached for the last 
time, at the funeral of a small child, the pastor of the church being 
from home. Soon after this he was laid on a bed of sickness, from 
which he never arose. His disorder was the Diabetes, which ter- 
minated his life Jan. 28th, 1829. Mr. Hotchkin, in the latter part 
of his life, made it a particular subject of prayer, that he might not 
outlive his usefulness, and in this respect his wishes were singu- 
larly gratified. Though his last sickness was long and distressing, 
he enjoyed the full exercise of reason. He was sure that his last 
hour was near at hand, and spoke of his departure with the same 
calmness that he would speak of taking a journey to visit dear 
friends. During his long, distressing sickness, not a single expres- 
sion of impatience was extorted from him. A most cheerful sub- 
mission to the will of his Heavenly Father was manifested in all 
his conversation, and in his whole deportment. He observed that 
everything concerning him was ordered in the best possible man- 
ner, and he desired no alteration in the divine government. His 
hope of heaven was fixed on Christ alone, and he renounced every 
other refuge. In the atonement of Christ he could see a founda- 
tion ample, stable, and every way glorious. On this foundation he 
reposed with the most entire confidence. In this state of feeling 
he fell asleep. The funeral was attended by a large concourse of 
sympathizing spectators, and an impressive sermon was preached 
by Rev. David Higgins, founded on 2 Kings ii. 12. "My father, 
my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof ! " 



288 



CHAPTER XXII. 

History of Individual Churches, Synod of Geneva.. Presbytery of Chenango: — Sher- 
burne, Smyrna, Otselic, East Lincklaen, East Pharsalia, Pharsalia First Congrega- 
tional, Plymouth, South New Berlin, Norwich, Preston, M'Donough, Smithville, 
Oxford, Guilford, Bainbridge, South Bainbridge, Bainbridge and Nineveh, Harpers- 
ville, Coventry First Church, Coventry Second Church, Green, Masonville, Coles- 
ville, Windsor, Barker, Triangle, Rockdale. 

Having thus far narrated the general history of the Presbyterian 
Churches in Western New York, we shall now, as far as we have 
the materials, proceed to give a brief notice of the churches indi- 
vidually, commencing on the eastern boundary, and beginning with 

THE PRESBYTERY OF CHENANGO. 

Sherburne. — The little colony that originally composed the church 
of Sherburne, removed from the town of Kent, in the State of Con- 
necticut, soon after the war of the Revolution. Many of them 
were soldiers in the army of that period. They first settled in 
Duanesburgh, in the present county of Schenectady, and were 
there organized into a church, and, for a season, enjoyed the minis- 
terial labors of Rev. Blackleach Burritt. Being unable to obtain 
the right of soil to the lands on which they there settled they 
determined on removing to the Chenango Valley, then a part of the 
twenty townships recently purchased of the Oneida Indians. De- 
sirous of securing to themselves and their posterity in their new 
home the institutions of the gospel, they associated themselves toge- 
ther in the location, purchase, and division of their lands. Their 
original purchase was one quarter of the present town of Sher- 
burne, through which flows the beautiful Chenango. Most of the 
pioneer settlers removed with their families to their new homes in 
the spring of 1793. After a long and tedious journey through an 
unbroken forest, the colony arrived on Saturday night at their in- 
tended place of residence. One week from the ensuing Sabbath, 
public religious worship commenced, which has constantly been 
maintained ever since. Their religious services were conducted 
by reading sermons, conference, singing, and prayer. In the au- 
tumn of 1793, they were visited by Rev. B. Burritt, their former 
pastor, who passed the Sabbath with them, and preached the first 
sermon ever delivered in the town. In 1794, a Congregational 
church, consisting of seventeen members — eight males and nine 
females, was organized by Rev. Mr. Campbell, said to be a mis- 



PRESBYTERY OF CHENANGO. 



289 



sionary from Connecticut. Nathaniel Gray and Abraham Raymond 
were elected deacons. This little band of self-denying disciples 
continued to prosper and increase for some years, enjoying occa- 
sionally the instruction and aid of an itinerant missionary, sent from 
the elder settlements to look after their brethren in, what was then 
called, the Far West. 

But the peace and unity which had thus far marked their history, 
was destined to be interrupted by division arising from local 
causes. The settlement simultaneously commenced on both sides 
of the river, and when the subject of building a house of worship 
began to be agitated, a difference arose in reference to its location. 
As the result of this the church was divided, and the members re- 
siding on the west side of the river, were formed into a church 
denominated the Second Congregational Church of Sherburne. 
This division occurred in 1802. The second church soon after 
erected a house of worship, and settled Rev. Joshua Knight as their 
pastor, who continued with them till 1823, when he was deposed 
from the ministerial office. 

The first. church gradually gathered strength, till in 1803, they 
erected and partly finished their present house of worship, about 
three-fourths of a mile north of its present location. In August, 
1806, Rev. Roger Adams was called to the pastoral charge of the 
church, and installed over them, and continued their pastor about 
three years. During his ministry a precious season of revival was 
enjoyed, and a number added to the church as its fruits. In 1810, 
the church edifice was removed to its present site. It is large and 
commodious, with a convenient lecture-room standing near it. 
After Mr. Adams's dismission the church was vacant till 1810, when 
Rev. Abner Benedict, jun., was installed as their pastor, and conti- 
nued in that station two years. During his ministry the church 
shared in another gracious effusion of the Holy Spirit, and thirty or 
forty members were added to the church. From the time of Mr. 
Benedict's dismission till 1814, the church was destitute of a pastor, 
and then settled Rev. John Truair, who continued in the pastoral 
office till 1820. During his ministry several revivals were expe- 
rienced, adding to the church about two hundred members. Rev. 
Lyman Rexford succeeded as stated supply, for about two years. 
He was succeeded by Rev. Isaac N. Sprague, who was installed 
as their pastor, and continued with them near ten years. In 1821, 
the pastor's dwelling-house was consumed by fire, and with it the 
records of the church. In 1827, the second church was dissolved, 
some of the members uniting with the first church, and others with 
the neighboring church of Smyrna, as best suited their convenience. 
After the dismission of Mr. Sprague in 1834, Rev. Mr. Snyder, as 
stated supply, labored with them about two years. In 1837, Rev. 
George E. Delavan was installed as pastor of the church, and re- 
mained two years. Since his dismission, the church has had no 

19 



290 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



regularly installed pastor. The pulpit was successively supplied 
by Rev. Messrs. Blodget, Hastings. J. S. Brown, and Leonard, till 
1844. In October of that year, Rev. Amos C. Tuttle commenced 
laboring with the church as a stated supply, and his labors are still 
continued. 

Oct. 23d, 1845, a free church (so called) was formed, consisting 
chiefly of members seceding from the first church, on account of 
their anti-slavery views. Exclusive of these seceding members, the 
church in November, 1845, consisted of about two hundred and forty 
members. In addition to revivals mentioned above, the years 1831, 
'36, and '42, were years of special refreshing from the presence of the 
Lord. The brethren and sisters cordially sympathize with all the 
benevolent operations of the day, and contribute liberally for their 
support. They have been the friends and patrons of education, 
and have contributed largely, at different times, for our Collegiate 
and Theological institutions. More than twenty young men of the 
place have been educated for the learned professions, several of 
whom now occupy important and responsible posts. 

The Episcopalians, Baptists, and Methodists, have each a church 
in the village of Sherburne ; but they are not large. 

Smyrna. — Concerning the history of this church the writer has 
obtained very little information. On the minutes of the General 
Assembly for 1829, he finds it reported as a church under the care 
of the Presbytery of Chenango, containing seventy-two members, 
Rev. Charles E. Avery, stated supply. A similar report is made 
. for the next year, excepting that the number of members is seven- 
ty-seven. The next year Rev. Samuel Manning is reported as 
stated supply, and the number of members eighty-five. In 1832, 
it is reported as vacant, and the members one hundred and ten. 
For the two next years Rev. Elias Childs is reported as pastor, 
and the number of members, for 1833, one hundred and twenty- 
one, and for 1834, one hundred and thirty-nine. After this period 
its name is not found in the reports of the Presbytery. The writer 
supposes that it was a Congregational Church, and that it probably 
withdrew from its connexion with the Presbytery. It w r as not 
connected with the Union Association. 

Otselic — This church appears to have been organized in 1830, 
with sixteen members, and to have been connected with the Pres- 
bytery. In 1833 it consisted of thirty-one members. It is named 
on the Statistical Tables of the General Assembly for the years 
1831-32-33 and '34, as having a stated supply. The name of the 
church is not found on the list of churches belonging to the Pres- 
bytery, after 1834. 

From the reports of the American Home Missionary Society, it 
appears that Rev. Luther Clark was, in May, 1809, appointed a 



PRESBYTERY OF CHENANGO. 



291 



missionary for one quarter of the time to labor in this place, and 
that his ministry, under the patronage of the Society, was con- 
tinued five years. In 1837, the church enjoyed the ministry of 
Rev. Sydney Mills for one quarter of the time, and in 1841 and 
'42, that of Rev. Peleg R. Kinne, for the same portion of the time. 
During these periods they were aided by the American Home 
Missionary Society. 

East Lincklaen. — At what period this church was organized is 
not known to the writer. Rev. Jephthah Pool, under a commis- 
sion from the American Home Missionary Society, ministered to 
the church two or three years, commencing in 1832. Under his 
ministry a revival of religion is noticed, with fifty or sixty hope- 
fully converted to God. Rev. T. H. Avers was commissioned to 
minister to this church by the Society, in September, 1836,, and 
seems to have continued till near the close of the year 1837. The 
name of this church is found on the Statistical Tables of the 
General Assembly for the years 1833 and '34, as connected with 
the Presbytery of Chenango. Its number of members is not 
stated, nor is its name, subsequent to this date, to be found in the 
Tables. 

East Pharsalia. — This church was organized in the month of 
August, 1838, by a committee of the Presbytery. At its organiza- 
tion it was composed of twelve members, four males and eight fe- 
males, who were mostly from the church of McDonough. It was 
organized as a Presbyterian church, and has enjoyed the stated 
preaching of the gospel one-third part of the time from the period 
of its organization. Rev. Charles Bowles supplied the pulpit about 
two years and a half. He was succeeded by Rev. Hiram Dyer, 
who has officiated between three and four years. The church has 
been aided by the American Home Missionary Society a portion 
of the time. It has a house of worship, erected in 1837, which is 
forty feet by thirty-four, and has a steeple, and gallery at one end. 
Its present number of members is not known to the writer. 

Pharsalia First Congregational Church. — This church was or- 
ganized Oct. 25th, 1814, by Rev. Oliver Hitchcock of Truxton, and 
Rev. Abner Benedict of Paris, with ten members, of whom five 
were males, and five females. It has a house of worship, erected 
in 1837, which is forty-two feet by thirty-four. It enjoyed the 
preaching of the gospel one-third part of the time from April, 1837, 
to July, 1840. It seems never to have been flourishing. At one 
period it was reduced in numbers to three members. It now num- 
bers eighteen, of whom seven only are males. Its ecclesiastical 
connexion is with the Oneida Association. 



292 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Plymouth. — At what period this church was organized is not 
known to the writer. It was organized a Congregational church, 
and came into connexion with the Union Association in February, 
1814. In this connexion it continued till the dissolution of that As- 
sociation in 1822. In 1829, it is first noticed on the Statistical Ta- 
bles of the General Assembly, as connected with the Presbytery of 
Chenango. It then numbered forty-six members, and had for its 
pastor Rev. Luther Clark, who continued from year to year to be 
reported as the pastor of the church, until 1834. From that period 
the name of the church is not on the list. At that period it con- 
sisted of ninety-six members. The greatest increase in any one 
year was that which preceded the report for May, 1832. In that 
year thirty-four members were received on examination, indicating 
that a visitation of the Holy Spirit had been enjoyed. This church 
received aid from the A. H. M. Society, in the support of Mr. Clark, 
during the years 1802, '3, and '4. Also in the support of Rev. David 
Abel, during 1842 and '43. 

South New Berlin. — This church was organized and became 
connected with the Presbytery of Chenango June 15th, 1833. It 
consisted at its organization of eighteen members. It is reported in 
1833 and 1834, as having a stated supply ; the latter of these years, 
as composed of thirty-six members. In 1846, it is reported as va- 
cant. From the report of the American Home Missionary Society 
it appears that Rev. Sidney Mills received a commission, Sept. 1st, 
1832, to labor as a missionary in this place, for one half of his time. 
His commission was renewed for the next year, and fourteen con- 
versions were reported as connected with his ministry. Rev. Elias 
Childs was appointed a missionary to this church, in November, 
1835, and his commission was renewed the following year. 

Norwich. — At what period the settlement of the town and village 
of Norwich commenced, the writer is not informed. It must have 
been at a pretty early period. The early settlers were not many 
of them religious people. It is, however, stated, that at a pretty 
early period, Rev. John Camp preached for several years, alter- 
nately in this place and in Oxford. Mr. Camp is stated to have 
been a missionary. The writer supposes that this is an error, and 
the Mr. Camp here alluded to, is the Mr. John Camp of whom men- 
tion is made in the ninth chapter of this work. No church of the 
denomination to which this history refers, was organized in this 
place, until 1814. In that year Rev. Joel T. Benedict, acting un- 
der a commission from the Missionary Society of Connecticut, visit- 
ed this place, in conjunction with other missionaries, and the Spirit 
of the Lord attended their preaching to the conscience and hearts 
of the hearers. Mr. Benedict, in his report to the Trustees of the 
Missionary Society, says, " In the shire-town of the County of Che- 



PRESBYTERY OF CHENANGO. 



293 



nango called Norwich, for years past the greatest stupidity, and an 
almost total indifference to divine things prevailed, and the Sabbath 
was wholly neglected. Daring the last winter and spring, the 
Lord remarkably owned the labors of missionaries in that place. 
I organized a church there in June, consisting of twenty members, 
and on the Sabbath the audience was large ; nearly four hundred 
persons attended. It is impossible to describe the alteration that 
has taken place there within a short time, for the better." From 
this period till 1827, the author has no information respecting its 
history. In 1827 the name of the church appears on the minutes of 
the General Assembly, in the Statistical Table, as connected with 
the Presbytery of Chenango. At that period it contained sixty-five 
members, and had a stated supply. The next year it is reported 
as vacant. In 1830 it appears that Rev. Horace P. Bogue was 
pastor of this church, and that it had increased to seventy-two 
members. During the year for which the report of 1832 was 
made, thirty-nine members were received to the church, on profes- 
sion of faith, indicating that the Holy Spirit had .graciously visited 
the church. For 1835 and 1836, the church is not reported, but in 
1837 it is reported as containing one hundred and twenty-four 
members, and having for its pastor Rev. John Sessions. In 1843 
the church is reported as vacant, Mr. Sessions having been dis- 
missed from his pastoral charge. In 1846 it is reported as consist- 
ing of one hundred and thirty members, Rev. Charles P. Jennings 
being stated supply. On the ninth day of July, 1847, Rev. Daniel 
Clark, Jun., was, by the Presbytery of Chenango, installed over 
this church, as their pastor. This church has a commodious house, 
and has never required the aid of the American Home Missionary 
Society. In the village there is an Episcopal, a Methodist, and a 
Baptist house of worship, with organized churches connected with 
them. 

Preston.— This is a Congregational church, organized March 
27th, 1822, by a Committee of Union Association, consisting of 
Rev. Charles Thorp, Rev. Asa Donaldson, and Mr. Asa Bradley, 
delegate. The original number of members was twenty-eight. 
Some of them had previously been members of the church of 
Norwich ; some were from churches in New England ; and some 
were received on a profession of their faith in Christ. The num- 
ber of its members at the last account was thirty-nine. It became 
connected with the Presbytery in 1830 or 1831, but transacts disci- 
pline in the Congregational manner. Prior to the settlement of the 
present pastor, it was successively supplied with preaching a part 
of the time by Rev. Messrs. Charles Thorp, Jeremiah Woodruff, 
and John Ivison. The present pastor, Rev. Hiram Dyer, com- 
menced his labors with the congregation in March, 1836, and was 
installed as pastor, Oct. 19th, of the same year. The church have a 



294 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



house of worship 48 feet by 38, with a steeple and gallery, erected 
in 1835. They have received aid from the American Home Mis- 
sionary Society for several years till the close of the year 1843. 
An interesting revival was enjoyed in the spring of 1837, in which 
twenty-five or thirty hopefully were born again. Perhaps one 
eighth of the inhabitants of the town attend worship with this 
church. The First-day Baptists are perhaps two to one of the 
Congregational Church. There are a few Free-will Baptists, some 
Methodists, and scores of Universalists. 

McDonough. — This church was organized July 28th, 1814, by 
Rev. John Truair of Sherburne. At its organization it consisted 
of fourteen members, mostly from Massachusetts, and adopted the 
Congregational form of government. In February, 1817, it became 
connected with the Union Association, and continued in that con- 
nexion till the dissolution of that body. The church adopted the 
Presbyterian form of government in October, 1826, and united 
with the Presbytery of Chenango, at the time of the first meeting 
of that body, after its organization. What ministerial assistance it 
received previous to its union with the Presbytery, is not known to 
the writer. Rev. Nahum Gould officiated as stated supply one 
half of the time, from 1827 to 1831, three years and a half. Rev. 
John Ivison for half of the time, from 1832 to 1835, two years and 
a half. Rev. Hiram Dyer for one fourth of the time, from 1836 to 
1838, two years and four months. Rev. Charles Bowles for one 
third of the time, from 1838 to 1841, two years and a half. The 
number of members in 1846, was thirty-seven. The highest num- 
ber reported at any time, is forty-six. The church has at several 
times received aid from the American Home Missionary Society. 
They have a house of worship, forty-eight feet by thirty-eight, with 
a steeple and gallery, which was erected in 1838, but is not com- 
pleted. Within the bounds of the congregation are many members 
of Baptist churches, both of the close communion and of the free 
will descriptions ; also a large Society of Methodists. 

Smithville. — The name of this church is found in the Statistical 
Table of the Minutes of the General Assembly for 1828, and seve- 
ral succeeding years, till 1834. It was connected with the Pres- 
bytery of Chenango. The greatest number of members reported 
at any one time is twenty-two. This was in 1829. Rev. Nahum 
Gould was at that time preaching, as stated supply, for a part of 
the time. Whether the church has changed its ecclesiastical rela- 
tions, or become extinct, is not known to the writer. 



Oxford. — The settlement of this place commenced, as we have 
already narrated, about the year 1791, by emigrants, chiefly from 



PRESBYTERY OF CHENANGO. 



295 



New England. The early settlers brought with them their regard 
for the institutions of religion and learning, which characterized 
the land of their nativity. As evidential of this, it may be men- 
tioned, that, in 1794, an Academy was incorporated in this place 
by the regents of the University, and went into operation the same 
year. The first frame house erected in the village was the Aca- 
demy edifice, which for several years was occupied on the Sabbath 
as a place for public worship, and in this building the gospel was 
first preached by Rev. Uri Tracy, principal of the Academy, and 
the missionaries who occasionally visited the region. At an early 
period, Rev. John Camp was employed to preach alternately in 
this village and at Norwich, and was continued in this employment 
seven or eight years. It was during his ministry, in the year 1799, 
that the church was organized on Congregational principles. Soon 
after the discontinuance of Mr. Camp's labors, the congregation 
called Rev. Eli Hyde to be their pastor, and, in compliance with 
the call, he was solemnly inducted into the pastoral office by an 
ecclesiastical council convened for the purpose, June 23d, 1808. 
The exercises on this occasion are said to have been exceedingly 
interesting, and, as no house in the village was competent to hold 
the assembly in attendance, the installation services were performed 
in the open air. The church then consisted of about twenty mem- 
bers. During Mr. Hyde's ministry public worship was attended 
in the old Academy, which had been fitted up for the purpose. On 
the first day of September, 1812, the church became connected 
with the Union Association, and, on the next day, the pastoral 
relation subsisting between them and Mr. Hyde was dissolved. 
The relation of the church to the Association w T as continued till the 
dissolution of that body. 

Up to the period of Mr. Hyde's dismission the whole community 
had been united in one religious society, and in the support of one 
minister. Among the evidences of the union and harmony which 
then existed, is an old subscription written on parchment, having 
attached to it eighty-one names. This instrument is dated April 
25th, 1808, and is about seven feet long, and seven inches wide. 
After Mr. Hyde's departure, the congregation were much depressed, 
and a long season of destitution of the stated preaching of the gos- 
pel succeeded. A valued correspondent observes, " We find her 
(the church) now worshipping in the old Academy, and now in a 
private dwelling ; at one time assembling with members of other 
denominations for prayer in a tavern, and then, for a considerable 
period, meeting with one accord in the upper chamber of a cabinet 
shop, where for a season she found rest, and enjoyed a refreshing 
from the presence of the Lord." The church, though without a 
minister, regularly maintained public worship on the Sabbath, 
availing themselves of the best helps which they could obtain. 
They received occasional assistance from the ministers of the 



296 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Union Association and others. In 1813, Mr. Burt, a licentiate from 
Connecticut, labored here for a short season. In 1818, Rev. Wil- 
liam M. Adams preached during six months, dividing his labors 
between Oxford and Norwich. Rev. John Truair preached also a 
few times. In 1821, Rev. John F. Schermerhorn and Rev. Charles 
Thorp assisted the church to some extent, and a more than ordinary 
seriousness prevailed. 

Under these circumstances Rev. Marcus Harrison visited the 
church, and labored with them for a season. The Lord blessed 
his labors, and a goodly number, as the result, was added to the 
church. During the seriousness which prevailed at this period, 
the upper chamber became too strait to accommodate the people 
who were disposed to attend the meetings, and it became neces- 
sary to enlarge it, and in the course of a single week, at an ex- 
tremely cold season, a room thirty-six feet by twenty-five was 
finished, arched, plastered, and furnished with seats, and actually 
occupied the next Sabbath. In the month of March following, the 
congregation resolved to erect a building for religious worship. 
This resolution was carried into effect, and on the thirty- first day 
of July, 1823, the present commodious and beautiful house was 
dedicated to the service of Almighty God. On the same occa- 
sion Mr. Joseph D. Wickham, a licentiate of the New Haven 
West Association, was ordained as an evangelist, and commenced 
his labors as stated supply to this church, which were continued 
till the spring of 1825. In the summer of that year, Rev. Elijah 
D. Welles was called to minister to this church, and, on the twelfth 
of July, 1826, was installed pastor, by the Presbytery of Chenan- 
go. During the following summer the church became connected 
with the Presbytery. Mr. Wells was dismissed in 1828. After 
his dismission Rev. Joel Chapin supplied the pulpit for a short 
time. In May, 1830, Rev. James Abell received a call from the 
congregation to become their pastor, commenced his ministerial 
labors, and was regularly installed. At this period the church 
consisted of about ninety members. During Mr. Abell's ministry 
the Spirit of the Lord was poured out extensively in this region, 
and the congregation of Oxford shared in the blessings, and about 
thirty were added to the church on a profession of faith in Christ. 
In April, 1836, Mr. Abell was dismissed. After the dismission of 
Mr. Abell, the church was supplied for a short season by Rev. Mr. 
Gilbert, and after him by Rev. Octavius Fitch. From May, 1838, 
ill June, 1839. Rev. Mr. Bassett officiated as stated supply. In 
October, 1839, Rev. Arthur Burtis commenced laboring with this 
church, and, on the twenty-second day of July, 1840, was, in ac- 
cordance with the unanimous call of the congregation, installed 
their pastor, in which relation to them he remained till January, 
i846, when the pastoral relation was dissolved. Rev. William M. 
Richards immediately succeeded as stated supply. 



PRESBYTERY OF CHENANGO. 



297 



The church has been greatly diminished by removals. The 
number of members, Jan. 1st, 1846, was eighty-one. During the 
long period of destitution which succeeded the dismission of Mr. 
Hyde, other Societies sprang up, and new churches were organ- 
ized. The Methodists, Baptists, and Episcopalians, have each 
organized societies, and houses of worship. In 1835 the Univer- 
salists organized a society, and built a house of worship. It has 
been remarked (with how much truth the author cannot say), that 
Elder Knapp built this church, and that Elder Swan filled it. 

Guilford. — Of the date of the organization of this church the 
author is not informed, nor respecting its early history. It was 
connected with the Union Association, and represented by a dele- 
gate in the meeting of the Association at the time of the dissolution 
of that body. Rev. Asa Donaldson was, by the Association, in- 
stalled pastor of this church, May 25th, 1819, which relation he 
sustained till 1831. The name of this church is first found on the 
Minutes of the General Assembly, in the Statistical Table for 
1825. It was then connected with the Presbytery of Otsego, and 
contained one hundred and twenty-seven members. When the 
Presbytery of Chenango was organized, it became connected with 
that Presbytery, in which relation it still continues. In the year 
1828 twenty-eight members are reported as added, and in the year 
1832, fifty-one, indicating that those were years of revival. But 
the year for which the report of 1833 is made, is emphatically the 
year of the visitation of the Holy Spirit. One hundred and four 
members were received into the church during that year on pro- 
fession of their faith. Rev. Leverett Hull is reported as stated 
supply for that year. In 1840, Rev. Solon G. Putnam is reported 
as pastor, and in 1843 and 1846, Rev. Justus L. Janes. In the 
last of these years, two hundred and sixty-five members are re- 
ported as belonging to the church, seventy-five having been added 
on profession of their faith during the three preceding years. 

Bainbridge. — The name of this town was formerly Jericho. It 
constituted part of a tract of land granted by the Legislature of the 
State, in 178S, to the sufferers by former grants in the present State 
of Vermont, to which New York had laid claim. Those who had 
suffered in this way, as well as by aiding in the defence of the laws 
of New York, received here a measure of indemnity. The first 
inhabitants were from the Eastern States, and the commencement 
of the settlement of an early date. A Congregational church was 
organized, probably as early as 1797 or 1798. Within a year or 
two from the period of the organization of the church, Rev. Joel 
Chapin was, as has been already stated, ordained to the work of the 
ministry, and at the same time," it is believed, installed pastor of the 
church. Of what number of members the church, at its organiza- 



298 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



tion, was composed, or how long the ministry of Mr. Chapin was 
continued with them is not known to the writer. Of the history of 
this church he has little information. In February, 1818, it became 
connected with the Union Association and continued in this con- 
nexion till the dissolution of that body. In 1829, it is reported as 
connected with the Presbytery of Chenango, containing forty-eight 
members. Re v. Ethan Pratt was at that time pastor of the church, 
and so continued till 1832. In 1833 the church is reported as hav- 
ing had an accession the preceding year of forty-nine members by 
examination, and as having a stated supply. The next year it is 
reported as composed of 158 members, and as supplied by Rev. 
George Spaulding. In 1837, it is reported as vacant ; also in 1840. 
In 1848, it is reported as consisting of forty-seven members, and as 
having a stated supply. In February, 1826, Rev. Sayers Gazley 
ministered to this church under a commission from the American 
Home Missionary Society. Rev. Calvin Warner is also reported, 
in 1843, as a missionary of the same Society, in this church. A 
revival is. also reported for that year, with forty hopeful converts. 

South Bainbridge. — This church was organized in 1802, by Rev. 
Daniel Buck. It was composed of members from the church in 
the north part of the town, and was a Congregational Church in its 
form of government. In 1819, it became connected with the Union 
Association. Soon after this period, Rev. W. Ruggles was or- 
dained, and installed pastor of this church by a committee of the 
Association. In 1840, it is reported as in connexion with the 
Presbytery of Chenango. It has now become extinct, leaving a 
large house of worship unoccupied, except when occasionally used 
by the Universalists, or on a funeral occasion. 

Bainbridge and Nineveh. — The village of Nineveh is situated in 
the town of Colesville on the Susquehannah river, at the point where 
the river is intersected by the line which divides the counties of 
Chenango and Broome. The church denominated " The Presby- 
terian Church of Bainbridge and Nineveh," was organized, October 
22d, 1831, by a committee of the Presbytery of Chenango. At its 
organization, it was composed of twelve members, all of them by 
letter from the church in South Bainbridge. On the next day it 
received an accession of twenty-three members from the world. It 
has from its organization to November, 1845, numbered 113 dif- 
ferent individuals ; but in consequence of removals and deaths, it 
numbered at that time but fifty-one. It has never, till within about 
four years, enjoyed constant ministerial labor. From the period of 
its organization, Rev. Ira Smith preached three or four years from 
one-half to three-fourths of the time. After Mr. Smith, Rev. Mr. 
Lombard supplied about a year, for one half of the time. Rev. 
Mr. Wells succeeded him, for one year, a part of the time. Rev. 



PRESBYTERY OF CHENANGO. 



299 



Mr. Spaulding was his successor, and preached two years, half of 
the time. After him Rev. Josiah Hawes was stated supply one- 
fourth of the time for two years. Rev. Crispus Wright followed 
him for six months ; preaching to the church one half of the time. 
Soon after Mr. Wright discontinued his services, Rev. Willard M. 
Hoyt was settled as pastor, and has continued his labors the whole 
of the time, between four and five years to the present time. The 
church have, with the aid of fifty dollars one year from the Ame- 
rican Home Missionary Society, towards the support of their pre- 
sent pastor, been enabled by a vigorous effort on their part to 
support the ministry of the gospel. Their house of worship is a 
building which was originally built for a school-house, but after- 
wards purchased by the Society and fitted up for a house of 'wor- 
ship. It will accommodate near 200 hearers, and is often upon the 
Sabbath well filled. 

Within the village and its near vicinity, are several Methodist 
classes, a part of two Baptist Churches, and an Episcopal Church. 
The members of the Baptist and Methodist churches are the most 
numerous, and are respectively of about the same strength as the 
Presbyterian Church. Probably not more than one-fourth of the 
inhabitants can be called regular attendants on any public worship. 

Harpersville. — A church was organized in this place, which is 
one mile below Nineveh, in July, 1827, by Rev. Seth Burt. It 
was Congregational, but united with the Presbytery of Chenango, 
and in the report to the General Assembly for 1828, is reported as 
consisting of eleven members. It is at one time reported as con- 
sisting of sixty members, but it never flourished, though for a sea- 
son it enjoyed the labors of Rev. Ira Smith for a part of the time. 
After a few years it dwindled away to a very small number, most 
of whom united with the church in Nineveh, and the church of 
Harpersville became extinct. 

Coventry First Church. — The present town of Coventry began 
to be settled at an early period, by a few families from New Eng- 
land. Among them there was not one male professor of religion. 
But having been brought up amidst the Sabbaths of worshipping 
New England, they felt that they could not suffer the Sabbath to 
pass without public worship. Accordingly they agreed to meet on 
the Sabbath, and selected the man whom they deemed most capa- 
ble to be the leader. The exercises consisted of singing, prayer, 
and reading a printed sermon, the man selected for the purpose 
leading in prayer, though not professedly a Christian. We have in 
this an interesting illustration of the influence of early training. 
After a short period they were joined by a pious man, and soon 
after by one or two more, who took the lead of their public wor- 
ship. _This was the origin of the congregation, now known as the 



300 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



First Church of Coventry. The families attending these meetings 
were distant from three to five miles from each other. After this 
manner the meetings were conducted for several years, when an 
old minister by the name of Camp visited them, and preached for 
a season. The writer supposes that this was the Mr. Camp of 
whom mention has been made before. After Mr. Camp, a man 
from England, styling himself a Presbyterian or Congregational 
minister, came and preached a year or two, and left the place. 
The church was organized in 1807, with fourteen members, by 
Rev. David Harrowar. A revival of religion was enjoyed in 1808, 
which added twenty-four members to the church. Some time this 
year Rev. Joseph Wood commenced laboring with this congrega- 
tion, and continued two or three years. In 1810 or the following 
year a house of worship was built. Some time previous to 1812 
the church became connected with the Northern Associated Pres- 
bytery. In July, 1812, Rev. Charles Thorp was ordained and 
installed pastor of the church, and in the following year a measure 
of divine influence was felt, which added seven members to the 
church. In February, 1815, the pastor and church connected with 
the Union Association, as more convenient in their location than 
the Northern Associated Presbytery. In 1816 and '17, a revival, 
which added to the church twenty-eight members, and another in 
1819, which added forty-nine members, were enjoyed. These 
were times of refreshing to the flock. In 1823, the pastoral rela- 
tion of Mr. Thorp to the church was dissolved. The church at 
this time numbered one hundred and sixteen members. In May, 
1825, Rev. Ambrose Eggleston commenced preaching in the con- 
gregation, and, as the writer believes, was soon after installed pas- 
tor of the church. His connexion with it continued till 1830 or 
'31. During the year of the commencement of Mr. Eggleston's 
ministry with this church, twenty-seven of its members were dis- 
missed to form a separate church. In June, 1827, the church was 
taken under the care of the Presbytery of Chenango, in which re- 
lation it still continues. In 1830, Rev. Nahum Gould officiated 
as stated supply a part of the year, and in 1831 Rev. Oliver Hill 
supplied a part of the year. In 1832, Rev. Octavius Pitch com- 
menced laboring in the congregation. His ministry was attended 
with a blessing ; the Spirit was poured out upon the congregation, 
and, in the result, seventy-eight were added to the church in the 
course of the year. From some time in 1833 to some time in 1835, 
Rev. Daniel B. Butts performed the duties of stated supply, and in 
1835 and '36, Rev. Elijah Whitney labored one year, aided by the 
American Home Missionary Society, to the amount of one hundred 
dollars. From May, 1837, to 1841, Rev. S. A. McEwen labored 
as stated supply. The present pastor, Rev. Crispus Wright, com- 
menced preaching in this congregation in Nov. 1841, and in June 
following was ordained and installed pastor of the church. During 



PRESBYTERY OF CHENANGO. 



301 



the winter following the ordination of Mr. Wright, an interesting 
season of revival was enjoyed, commencing in the prayer-meeting, 
and arising to its greatest height without foreign aid. It continued 
several months, and resulted in the addition of thirty-eight members 
to the church. The number of members belonging to the church, 
according to the report of 1846, was one hundred and twenty. 

Coventry Second Church. — This church was organized, June 
21st, 1825, by Rev. John B. Hoyt, then residing in Greene. It con- 
sisted, according to the statement of Mr. Hoyt, oi fourteen members 
dismissed from the first church of Coventry, for the purpose of a 
new organization. Mr. Wright, the pastor of the first church, says, 
that twenty-seven members of that church were dismissed for the 
purpose of organizing the second. The cause of the division was, 
the location of the original house of worship, it being entirely on 
one side of the congregation. Rev. Ira Smith preached as a 
stated supply, two or three years after its organization, and Rev. 
Seth Burt for about the same period. These were succeeded by 
the present pastor, Rev. John B. Hoyt, who was installed as pastor, 
June 19th, 1833. Soon after the organization of the church, it was 
taken under the care of the Presbytery of Chenango, on the " ac- 
commodating plan," and still retains its connexion. The church 
have a plain, comfortable house of worship, which is sixty feet in 
length, by forty-eight in breadth. It was erected the summer before 
the organization of the church. They have been blessed with 
several interesting revivals. In the autumn of 1831, was a most 
interesting work of grace in which were about four hundred hopeful 
conversions, and about fifty family altars were erected in the west- 
ern part of the town. There have been several seasons of revival 
since, mostly in connexion with protracted meetings, or conferences 
of churches. Nearly half of the population of the western section 
of the town are in the habit of attending worship with this church. 
There is a Baptist Church meeting in the village, and a Methodist 
Church about two and a half miles distant ; neither of them as large 
as the Presbyterian. 

Greene. — Of the settlement of this town and village mention has 
been made in a preceding part of this work. Of the history of the 
church the writer has but little information. It was organized on 
the Congregational system, but at what period the author cannot 
say. It was received as a constituent member of the Union Asso- 
ciation, February 16th, 1819, and continued in this connexion to the 
dissolution of that body. Its name is first found on the Statistical 
Table in the minutes of the General Assembly for the year 1832. 
The two next years it is reported as consisting of one hundred 
and eleven members. In 1840 the number of members reported is 
one hundred and sixty-four, and in 1846, one hundred and forty-six. 



302 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



The church has never had a pastor regularly installed. Rev. John 
B. Hoyt ministered to them as stated supply, about thirteen years, 
from 1820 to 1833. In 1837, the church is reported as vacant. In 
1840, Rev. Azariah G. Orton is reported as stated supply. At what 
time he commenced his labors with this church is not known to the 
writer. He still continues to minister to them. This church had 
been aided by the American Home Missionary Society, one year 
in the support of Mr. Hoyt, and three years in the support of Mr. 
Orton. They have a commodious house of worship. There are 
also houses of worship for the Baptists, the Methodists, and the 
Episcopalians. 

Masonville. — The, name of this church is found in the Statistical 
Tables, for the only time, in 1846. Rev. Hervey Smith is reported 
as stated supply ; the number of members is not mentioned. This 
is all the information which the writer has respecting it. 

Colesville. — The church which is know r n on the records of the 
Presbytery as the church of Colesville, is the church of which 
mention is made in a former chapter, and which was organized by 
Rev. Benjamin Judd, at Oquago (now Windsor), in August, 1793. 
At that period, all the eastern part of the present county of Broome 
belonged to the town of Chenango, and was mostly a wilderness. 
The church, at its organization, consisted of seven members. For 
a considerable period they enjoyed only occasional preaching, 
mostly by missionaries. The names of Rev. Messrs. Seth Willis- 
ton, David Harrowar, Joel T. Benedict, Joseph Badger, Joshua 
Johnso*n, Samuel Sargeant, James Jewell, and a Mr. Treat, are 
mentioned as occasional laborers in this part of the vineyard. Rev. 
William Stone also preached frequently in this place, in the inter- 
val between 1791 and 1795. Rev. Seth Sage removed into the 
place in the year 1800, and preached frequently in the region, from 
18Q0 to 1807. Rev. Joel Chapin frequently preached, and was 
eminently useful in transacting the ecclesiastical concerns of the 
region. In December, 1800, a re-organization of the church took 
place: for what reason does not appear. They then adopted the 
Confession of Faith and mode of discipline maintained by the 
Morris County Associated Presbytery, and, as the author believes, 
connected themselves with that ecclesiastical body. At this period 
they took the name of " The Eastern Presbyterian Church in Che- 
nango." The members were scattered over a large territory 
embracing the present towns of Windsor and Colesville, and at this 
period worshipped in two places. One of these was a frame building 
in Windsor, erected for an Academy ; the other, a log school-house 
in the present town of Colesville. In 1812, in consequence of the 
extent of territory, ten of the members were set off as a separate 
church, now known as the church of Windsor. In March, 1816, 



PRESBYTERY OF CHENANGO. 3C3 

Rev. Joseph Wood was installed pastor of the two churches, but 
his health failing, he was dismissed in 1819. In the year 1818, the 
congregation erected a house of worship on Cole's Hill, which is 
yet standing. In 1827, it is reported as being under the care of 
the Presbytery of Chenango, and consisting of forty-three mem- 
bers, without a pastor or stated supply. Xo pastor regularly 
installed, except Mr. Wood, has ever presided over this church. 
They have at times enjoyed the ministrations of a stated supply. 
In 1829, Rev. Ira Smith is reported as supplying this church and 
Harpersville. In 1830 and 1831, Rev. John Sherer, under the 
patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, ministered 
to this church and that of Sanford one year. From May, 1832, for 
one year, this church and the church of Harpersville were supplied 
by Rev. Publius V. Bogue. The church has never been flourishing. 
The greatest number of members ever reported to the Presbytery 
was forty-five. This was in the year 1828. Some aggravating 
cases of discipline have occurred. This circumstance, with the 
deaths and removals of influential members, has reduced the church 
so that in 1836 or 1837, it ceased to act officially any more, and 
the church has become extinct. Its name is not found in the reports 
of the Presbytery since the year 1840. Its house of worship is 
occupied by the Baptist denomination. 

Windsor. — The settlement of this place, and the organization of 
a church at Oquago on the fifteenth day of August, 1793, have 
already been narrated. The present church of Windsor was 
organized, Dec. 15th, 1812, by Rev. Ebenezer Kingsbury, and con- 
sisted of ten members taken from the original church formed at 
Oquago, and which afterwards became the church of Colesville. 
At the organization of the church, Mr, Kingsbury was chosen to 
act as standing moderator until the church should be otherwise 
provided for. Rev. Joseph Wood, as has been stated in the history 
of Colesville, was installed as pastor of both churches, on the sixth 
day of March, 1816, and, on account of ill health, was dismissed, 
Sept. 19th, 1819, though he retained the place of moderator in the 
meetings of the church till 1826. During the interval between the 
dismission of Mr. Wood and 1826, the church was some of the 
time destitute of a preached gospel, except an occasional Sabbath 
when an itinerating missionary came among them, and some of the 
time had a stated supply for a short season. As ministers who 
supplied to a greater or less extent, are mentioned the names of 
Rev. Messrs. Ebenezer Kingsbury, Manasseh M. York, Salmon 
King, Oliver Hill, David S. Morse, Samuel Manning, Reuben San- 
born, and Seth Burt. On the twenty-sixth day of September, 1826, 
Rev. John M. Babbitt was installed pastor of the church, and sus- 
tained that relation till June 15th, 1830. Not long after this, Rev. 
Elijah W. Stoddard commenced his labors here, and was installed 



304 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



pastor, June 6th, 1832. His dismission took place, Aug. 2d, 1836. 
After Mr. Stoddard's dismission, Rev. Hugh Carlisle, and Mr. 
James H. Scott, were successively employed as stated supplies, 
each for a short time, and after them Rev. Lyman Richardson, for 
a period of about two years. Immediately after Mr. Richardson 
closed his labors, Mr. Hiram W. Gilbert, the present pastor of the 
church, and then a licensed preacher of the gospel, commenced 
his labors in this place, and on the twentieth day of October, 1841, 
w T as ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, and installed pas- 
tor of the church, by the Presbytery of Chenango. The first three 
pastors of the church are now deceased. 

The church was organized as a Congregational church, and con- 
tinued to transact the discipline of the church according to that 
order, until Jan. 26th, 1827, at w 7 hich time, by a unanimous vote, 
the church adopted the Presbyterian form of government and dis- 
cipline, which is still in use. The church became connected with 
the Luzerne Association, June 15th, 1813, and when this body be- 
came merged in the Presbytery of Susquehannah, this church went 
with it. At the meeting of the General Assembly in May, 1827, 
this church, with that, of Colesville, was, by a resolution of the As- 
sembly, transferred from the Presbytery of Susquehannah and 
Synod of New Jersey to the Presbytery of Chenango in the Synod 
of Geneva. In this connexion it has remained ever since. The 
church has a very convenient and appropriate house of worship, 
fifty-six feet in length and forty in breadth, with a basement story, 
which was dedicated to the service of God, Oct. 11th, 1842. 

There have been several seasons of special religious interest, and 
some of powerful revival, in the congregation of Windsor. From 
the first organization in 1793 until 1810, the additions to the church 
were comparatively few, and many of them by letter. But in 1810 
and 1811, under the faithful and earnest preaching of Rev. Messrs. 
Joel T. Benedict and David Harrowar, a precious season of re- 
freshing was enjoyed. Of this revival we have before spoken. 
Another revival was enjoyed under the labors of Rev. Samuel 
Manning, in 1823. The years 1830 and 1831 were years of revi- 
val ; also the year 1844, in which thirty-two members were added 
to the church by profession. The number of individuals who have 
been members of the church since its organization, including the 
original ten, is, according to the roll, two hundred and sixty. Of 
these, some have been dismissed, some have seceded, some are far 
removed and without letters, and some, perhaps forty-four, are 
fallen asleep. The present number of resident members (1846) 
is one hundred and thirty-seven. There are about two hundred 
and seventy families within the bounds of the congregation. Of 
these, from seventy to eighty attend worship with this Presbyterian 
church. 

After the division of the Presbyterian Church in the United 



PRESBYTERY OF CHENANGO. 



305 



States by the exscinding act of 1837, several of the members of the 
church of Windsor were disposed to secede from the Presbytery 
of Chenango and join the Old School Presbytery of Susquehannah. 
Accordingly, in 1839, some twenty-five or thirty of the members 
seceded from the church of Windsor, and were organized, as a 
separate church, by Rev. John H. Reddington, at that time a mem- 
ber of the Presbytery of Susquehannah. This church, in 1848, 
numbered forty members, was under the care of the Presbytery of 
Steuben, and had for its pastor Rev. Adam Craig. There is in 
the town an Episcopal society, with services once in two weeks, 
but without a house of worship ; a small Baptist church of the 
close communion order ; two societies of Free Will Baptists ; and 
Methodists of four descriptions, viz. the Episcopal, the Protestant, 
the true Wesleyan, and the Reformed. In the village there is a 
Methodist chapel, in which there is circuit preaching once each 
Sabbath. 

Barker. — This church, which was formerly called Lisle third 
church, is first noticed in the reports of the Presbytery in the year 

1831. The author supposes that it was then of recent formation. 
It then numbered thirty-six members. The number reported the 
next year was sixty-nine, thirty-one having been added by profes- 
sion. The succeeding year eighty-nine was the number of mem- 
bers reported, twenty of whom had been added during the year on 
their profession of faith in Christ. It would seem that these two 
years were years of revival. The last report (for 1846) gives, as 
the number of communicants, seventy-five, being a decrease of 
fourteen during the three preceding years. In 1831 and 1832, 
Rev. Seth Burt was reported as a stated supply to this church. 
The two next years the church is reported as being statedly sup- 
plied, but by whom is not known to the writer. In the report for 
1837, and from that period down to 1846, Rev. Jeremiah Woodruff 
is reported as the stated supply. The church has been aided by 
the American Home Missionary Society, three years, in the sup- 
port of Mr. Woodruff. They have a house of worship which was 
finished in 1835, or the succeeding year. 

Triangle. — The name of this church is first found on the Statis- 
tical Table in the Minutes of the General Assembly for the year 

1832. It consisted at that period of ninety-nine members, thirty- 
five having been added the preceding year on examination. In the 
year 1834, thirty-six members had been added the preceding year 
on examination, making the whole number of members, at that 
period, one hundred and thirty-two. During these years Rev. 
Jeremiah Woodruff is reported as the stated supply to this church. 
Towards the latter part of the year 1837, Rev. Stephen Ellis was 
commissioned by the American Home Missionary Society to labor 

20 



306 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



in this church. He seems to have continued his labor, under the 
patronage of the Society, for three or four years, and a revival is 
reported as having been enjoyed under his ministry, but to what 
extent the writer is not informed. In May, 1841, Rev. Hervey 
Smith was commissioned by the same Society to labor as a mis- 
sionary in this congregation. In 1843, he is reported as the pastor 
of the church. In 1846, the church is reported as consisting of 
one hundred and twenty-one members, and enjoying the ministry 
of a stated supply. 

Rockdale.— This church is for the first time reported by the 
Presbytery, in 1832. It then consisted of twenty-three members, 
and was reported as vacant. The two next years it is reported as 
enjoying the labors of a stated supply, and the last of those years 
as consisting of sixty-five members. In succeeding years its name 
is regularly found in the reports to the General Assembly, but no 
particulars noticed, except that it is vacant. From the Reports of 
the American Home Missionary Society it appears that Rev. 
Elias Childs, in December, 1834, received a commission to labor 
in this field for one year. The writer believes that he continued 
but seven months of the time* 



307 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

Presbytery of Onondaga. — Nelson, Peterboro' or Smithfield, Cazenovia, Canaseraga, 
Lenox, Wampsville, Oneida Lake, Ridgeville, Chittenango, Matthews's Mills, Man 
lius, Manlius Centre, Oran, Pompey, Pompey Centre, Delphi, Tully, Otisco, La 
Fayette, Jamesville, Fayetteville, De Witt or Orville, Britton Settlement, Cicero, 
Liverpool, Salina, Syracuse, Syracuse Congregational Church; Syracuse Second 
Presbyterian Church: Onondaga West Hill, Onondaga Hollow, South Onondaga: 
Camillus, Camillus Third Church ; Van Buren, Amboy, Baldvvinsville, Lysander. 

We proceed in our narrative to give the history of the churches 
which have been connected with 

THE PRESBYTERY OF ONONDAGA. 

Nelson. — The settlement of this town commenced, as has been 
previously stated, in 1794, by a company from the State of Ver- 
mont. Almost all its early inhabitants were from that State and 
the States of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. When the 
church was first organized, by whom, or what number of members 
composed it, are circumstances not known to the writer. It be- 
came connected with the Union Association in September, 1813, 
and continued in that connexion till the dissolution of the Associa- 
tion. In 1825, for the first time, it is reported as under the care of 
the Presbytery of Onondaga. The number of communicants is not 
stated, and it is reported as vacant. In October of this year, the 
Presbytery of Cortland was organized, including the church of 
Nelson, to which it remained attached till 1835, when, by the Act 
of the Synod, it was re-annexed to the Presbytery of Onondaga. 
The church has never been in a flourishing state. The largest 
number of members which it has ever reported is fifty, and in the 
last repoi't for 1846, the number was reduced to twenty-one. It 
has never had a regularly installed pastor. In the year 1831, and 
three successive years afterwards, Rev. Nathan Gillett was report- 
ed as its stated supply. With this exception it has uniformly been 
reported as vacant. 

Peterboro' or Smithfield. — The name of this church on the Sta- 
tistical Tables in the Minutes of the General Assembly, is uniformly 
Smithfield, until 1840. On the Table for that year, and for 1846, 
it is named Peterboro'. The former is the name of the town ; the 
latter, the name of the village, centrally situated in the town, and 
the place where the house of worship is erected. When the set- 
tlement of the town commenced, and at what period the church 



308 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



was organized, the writer is not informed. In 1812 the church was 
in connexion with the Presbytery of Onondaga. It was then with- 
out a pastor or stated supply. Rev. Jonathan Kitchell was in- 
stalled pastor of the church, Sept. 8th, 1814, by the Presbytery of 
Onondaga. His labors were continued till March 1st, 1821, when 
the pastoral relation was dissolved. Respecting the state of the 
church during his ministry the writer has no information. The 
first report of members is in 1825. The church at that time was 
composed of one hundred and forty-eight members. Rev. Hugh 
M. Boyd was then the pastor. In that, year the church was trans- 
ferred to the Presbytery of Cortland, but was re-annexed to the 
Presbytery of Onondaga in 1835, in connexion with which it still 
remains. Rev. Samuel T. Mills was installed pastor, the author 
believes, in 1825 or '28, and sustained this relation till 1834 or '35. 
During his ministry some precious seasons of revival were expe- 
rienced. In 1827, twenty-one members are reported as added to 
the church on examination ; the next year, twenty ; and in 1832, 
fifty-eight. The whole number of members reported the latter year 
was twofjiundred and fifteen. The pastor who succeeded Mr. 
Mills was Rev. Abishai Scofield, but at what period he was instal- 
led the writer is not informed. He was dismissed in March, 1842. 
In 1846, Rev. Asa Rand is reported as a stated supply to this 
church, and the number of members as one hundred and seventeen. 

Cazenovia. — The settlement of this place in 1793, by Col. John 
Lincklaen, and the organization of a Congregational church in 1799, 
by Rev. Joshua Leonard, have been narrated in a preceding part 
of this work. The church at its organization consisted of nine 
members. At this period Mr. Leonard was a resident in the 
place, and statedly preached to the people. Their place of wor- 
ship was a large school-house, with a desk and plain seats like 
pews without doors. Until the arrival of Mr. Leonard, no stated 
preaching was enjoyed. Mr. Leonard, at the commencement of 
his labors here, sought out and collected together the few profes- 
sors of religion in the vicinity, with a view to the organization of a 
church. In this work he was assisted by Mr. Jedidiah Turner, 
who had been deacon of a church on the Susquehannah. Those 
who had previously been members of churches were then living at 
considerable distances from each other, and unacquainted. Mr. 
Leonard collected them together, and a church was organized by 
the candidates giving their assent to a Confession of Faith, and a 
Form of Covenant, prepared for the occasion. This transaction 
took place on the seventeenth day of May, 1799. The names of 
the original members were, Rev. Joshua Leonard, Jedidiah Turner, 
Jacob Dannals, John Tappan, Samuel R. Coats, Anne Howd, Mary 
Dannals, Eunice Coats, and Alathea Root. Two days after the 
organization of the church, Jedidiah Turner was elected to the 



PRESBYTERY OF ONONDAGA. 



309 



office of deacon. The church was organized on the Congregational 
platform, and became, at the formation of the Middle Association, 
connected with that body. Mr. Leonard was invited to take the 
pastoral charge of the church, and was, by an ecclesiastical council 
convened for the purpose, inducted into the pastoral office on the 
sixth day of Jane, 1799. On his coming to Cazenovia Mr. Leonard 
received as a gratuity, from the Holland Land Company, one hun- 
dred acres of land. His yearly salary was about five hundred dol- 
lars, which was raised the first three years by a tax upon the sub- 
scribers for his support, according to the amount of their property, 
as determined by the town assessment roll. Afterwards it was 
raised by voluntary subscription. Mr. Leonard continued the pas- 
tor of the church until July 27th, 1813, being a period of about four- 
teen years. He was dismissed by the Presbytery of Onondaga, 
with which he and the church were connected, on account of his 
declining health, and on his own request and the consent of the 
church. During the period of his ministry with this church, one 
hundred and sixty-nine members, of whom sixty were males, and 
one hundred and nine females, were received into the church. One 
hundred and twenty-seven remained members at the time of his 
dismission. Of the members received, about one half united by let- 
ters of recommendation from other churches, and the remainder on 
examination and profession. Among those who were received on 
a profession of their faith, was the late Col. John Lincklaen, the 
agent of the Holland Land Company, and the first settler in the 
town. He was a native of Holland, a gentleman of good educa- 
tion, and an active business man. At his settlement in Cazenovia 
he was careless on the subject of religion, and, as the writer be- 
lieves, sceptical in his views ; but from the time of his hopeful 
change, the evidence of his piety was very conspicuous. He was 
ever ready to devote his time and his property to promote the in- 
terests of the Redeemer's kingdom. For several years he per- 
formed the duties of stated clerk of the Presbytery of Onondaga, 
and generally represented the session of the church in the meetings 
of the Presbytery and the Synod. Twice he represented the body 
with which he was connected in the General Assembly. He died 
Feb. 9th, 1822. 

Rev. John Brown succeeded Mr. Leonard in the pastorate. He 
came to Cazenovia a licensed preacher of the gospel, under the care 
of Orange Association, in the State of New Hampshire, and was 
by the Presbytery of Onondaga ordained and installed pastor of the 
church of Cazenovia, Dec. 8th, 1813. His dismission took place, as 
the writer believes, in 1828. He was succeeded by Rev. Charles 
White, whose ministry with the church was continued but two or 
three years, and after a period of some continuance, Rev. Eleazar 
S. Barrows was installed as pastor. He is reported on the minutes 
of the General Assembly in the year 1834, and again in 1836, after 



310 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



which there is no further report till 1840, at which time the church 
is reported as vacant. In 1843 it is reported as having a stated 
supply, and in 1846 Rev. James R. Davenport is reported as pas- 
tor. 

This church has enjoyed several seasons of special divine influ- 
ence. One such in the latter part of the year 1815, and the suc- 
ceeding year has been already noticed in a former chapter. In the 
year 1828, forty-three members are reported as having been added 
to the church on examination, during the preceding year, and in 
1832, the number of such additions reported was eighty-two. In 
that year, the total number of members reported was 326, which 
is the greatest number which has ever been reported. The whole 
number of communicants reported in 1846 was 246, 

In the year 1805, the present commodious house of worship was 
built at an expense of more than $5,000, and was dedicated to the 
service of Almighty God, February 13th, 1806. It was erected on 
the north side of the green, facing Green street, where it stood till 
1828, when it was removed to its present location on the north side 
of the public square near the centre of the village. The Congre- 
gationalists, the Baptists, and the Methodists have each of them a 
church in the village. 

P Canaseraga. — Respecting this church the author has no infor- 
mation, except what he has derived from the minutes of the General 
Assembly. On the minutes for 1832, 1833, and 1834, it is noticed 
as belonging to the Presbytery of Onondaga, and as consisting of 
sixty-six members, having in 1832 a stated supply, and in the other 
years as being vacant. No mention is made of it in the minutes,, 
at any subsequent period. (This church is probably the one called 
Lenox 2d, in 1831.) 

Lenox. — The town of Lenox was erected in 1809 from the 
eastern part of the town of Sullivan. The settlement commenced 
about the year 1800. Judge Sylvanus Smalley, Edward and John 
Lewis, and Deacons Nathaniel and John Hall, were amongt he 
early settlers. Public worship was instituted at an early period. 
A church of the Congregational order was organized, probably as 
early as 1804 or 1805. A year or two after this, a clergyman of 
the name of Wager officiated as stated supply to the church for a 
season. At a subsequent period, Rev. Ira M. Olds was ordained 
and installed pastor of the church in connexion with the Church of 
Sullivan. At what period this event took place is not known to the 
writer. The church is supposed to have been connected with the 
Middle Association, and probably the solemnity of ordination was 
performed by that ecclesiastical body. At the organization of the 
Presbytery of Onondaga, October 30th, 1810, this church appears 
as one of the original churches. September 2d, 1817, Mr. Olds* 



PRESBYTERY OF ONONDAGA. 



311 



relation to the church of Sullivan was dissolved, and that church 
was, at the request of its members, incorporated with the church 
of Lenox. Mr. Olds continued to sustain the pastoral relation to 
this church till April 11th, 1832, when he was dismissed by act of 
the Presbytery. In 1825, the church is reported as consisting of 
105 members. In 1832, the church is reported as vacant ; the next 
year as statedly supplied, and the year following as again vacant. 
In 1836, Rev. William Goodell is reported as a stated supply to this 
church. He probably continued one year. Rev. Alvah Day was 
installed as pastor of the church in 1838, and was dismissed in 
October, 1S41. In 1S43, Rev. David L. Hurm is reported as stated 
supply. How long he continued is not known to the writer. De- 
cember 25th, 1844. Rev. Alfred A. Graley was ordained and 
installed pastor of this church, and still continues. 

This church seems not to have been greatly favored with the 
special effusions of the Holy Spirit. The greatest number of mem- 
bers reported as received by profession in any one year, is nineteen. 
This was in the year 1828. The next year the number of mem- 
bers reported was one hundred and fourteen, the greatest number 
ever reported by this church. The number of members in 1846 
was fifty-six. This diminution may have been occasioned by the 
organization of other churches in the near vicinity. The church 
have always supported their own pastor without missionary aid. 
They have a house of worship erected many years since. 

Wampsville. — This is a small village situated on the line of the 
Syracuse and Utica railroad, in the eastern part of the town of 
Lenox. The church was organized, probably, in the year 1828, 
and was, till 1S31, denominated Lenox fourth church. Of what 
number of members it was composed at its organization, the writer 
is not informed. In 1832 it numbered sixty-three members, having 
received the year previous thirty-one by profession. In 1834, it 
numbered seventy- seven, and in 1S46, one hundred and thirty 
members. The church was received under the care of the Pres- 
bytery of Onondaga. February 23d, 1829. Feb. 10th. 1841, its 
name was stricken from the list of churches under the care of the 
Presbytery, as it had united with the Presbytery of Albany (Old 
School). It was received under the care of the Presbytery of 
Onondaga as;ain. on its application for that purpose. Februarv 
13th. 1844. 

This church, at the period of its organization, enjoyed for a part 
-of the time the labors of Rev. Hezekiah X. Woodruff. * Rev. George 
Freeman ministered to them two years from April, 1830. October 
19th, 1833, Rev. William H. Cooper was ordained, and installed 
pastor of the church, and still continues to sustain the relation. 
This church, in supporting its ministers, received assistance from 
ihe American Home Missionary Society till 1836. Since that 



312 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



period they have been able to support their pastor without aid. 
They have a house of worship, which was completed in 1831. 

Oneida Lake. — The location of this church is on the Oneida 
lake, in the town of Lenox. The church was received under the 
care of the Presbytery of Onondaga, February 1st, 1828, and at 
that time denominated Lenox second church. It is supposed by 
the writer, at that time, to have been a newly formed church. In 
1825 it was reported as consisting of one hundred and twenty 
members, and as vacant. In 1827 it is reported as having a pastor, 
but its number of members was reduced to seventy-four. The 
writer supposes that Rev. George W. Elliot was the pastor, but at 
what time his installation took place is not known. He was dis- 
missed from his pastoral charge of the church, September 8th, 1830. 
In 1828, one hundred and six members were reported as belonging 
to the church, thirty-nine having been added by profession the pre- 
ceding year. The last year of Mr. Elliot's pastorate the number 
of members reported was one hundred and forty-eight. From that 
period the church has been diminishing in its number of members ; 
but from what cause is not known to the writer. The last report 
(for 1843) states the number of members to be but thirty. Since 
the dismission of Mr. Elliot, the church has been without a regular 
pastor, and for a considerable part of the time without any stated 
supply. Rev. Ezekiel J. Chapman has at times officiated as stated 
supply, but to what extent is not known to the writer. In 1846, 
they are reported as statedly supplied. This church received the 
aid of the American Home Missionary Society one year in the 
support of Mr: Elliot. 

Ridgeville. — This is a small village in the north-western part of 
the town of Lenox. The church was organized in the year 1827, 
and on the eighth day of February of that year was taken under 
the care of the Presbytery of Onondaga. At its organization it 
was composed of about sixty members, and till 1831, was denomi- 
nated Lenox third church. In the years 1 827, '29, '3 1 , '32, and '33, it 
is reported as vacant ; and, in 1828, '30, '34, and '36, as statedly sup- 
plied. In the year 1828, thirty-eight members are reported as 
having been added by profession the preceding year; and in 1832, 
sixty-three. From these circumstances we are led to suppose that 
these were years of revival. In 1832 the church numbered one 
hundred and thirty-nine members. By whom the church was sup- 
plied when it enjoyed the preaching of the gospel, or what, means 
were employed in promoting revivals, is not known to the author. 
The venerable Rev. Roger Adams, since deceased, then resided in 
the place, but he is not reported as standing in the relation of stated 
supply to this church. In February, 1837, Rev. Samuel Howe 
received a commission from the American Home Missionary Society 



PRESBYTERY OF ONONDAGA. 



313 



to labor with this church. It would appear, that about this time, 
or soon after, he was installed pastor of the church. His commis- 
sion was renewed the next year, and he reported a revival as hav- 
ing been enjoyed, and about thirty hopeful converts as the result. 
He was dismissed from his pastoral charge, Feb. 25th, 1840: Since 
his dismission the church seems to have been vacant, and to have 
rapidly declined. Forty-five members composed the church at the 
date of the last report. 

Chittenango. — This church was originally called Sullivan second 
church. After 1831 it was known as the church of Canaseraga, 
and more recently by the name of Chittenango. It became con- 
nected with the Presbytery of Onondaga, Sept. 7th, 1819. The 
writer supposes that it had then been recently formed. In 1825 it 
consisted of fifty-five members. In 1830, from some cause un- 
known to the writer, it was reduced to the number of twelve. In 
1832, it reported thirty-six members, the greatest number ever re- 
ported. In July, 1834, this church in an irregular manner con- 
nected themselves with the body calling themselves the Central 
Evangelical Association of New York, a body of Perfectionists 
and Unionists. In January following the church acknowledged 
their error, and on their request, were again received under the 
care of the Presbytery ; but in November of the same year they 
notified the Presbytery that they had seceded from its jurisdiction. 
On the sixth of January, 1836, the Presbytery passed a vote of 
censure on the church, and struck its name from the roll. This 
church, while it continued in connexion with the Presbytery, was 
never prosperous. It never had a regularly installed pastor, and 
was more than half of the time reported as vacant. What has 
been its condition since it seceded from the Presbytery is unknown 
to the writer. 

Matthews's Mills. — The members of this church reside in the 
northern part of the town of Manlius, and in the north-western 
part of the town of Sullivan. The region was first settled by that 
class of inhabitants usually denominated squatters, who made lit- 
tle or no improvement, and soon left the country. Messrs. Mat- 
thews and Kellar were among the first permanent inhabitants. 
Public worship was first set up in 1810, and conducted by Deacon 
Cook and Captain Tombs, in the manner usual at that period where 
there was no minister of the gospel. A Presbyterian church, con- 
sisting of twelve members, was organized, April 23d, 1817, by 
Rev. John Shepherd. It was organized at the place called the 
Rapids, where the little village of Bridgeport is now situated. Its 
present site of conveningis at Matthews's Mills, four miles above 
the Rapids. At its organization the church was denominated 
Sullivan first church. Since 1831, it has been known as the church 



314 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



of Matthews' s Mills. In 1825, the church reported thirty-four mem- 
bers ; in 1832, sixty-seven. This is the highest number ever 
reported. From that period the number has diminished. The re- 
port for 1846 states it at fifty, but the author's correspondent, in 
October, 1845, says, it then numbered twenty-five members. It 
has never had a regularly installed pastor ; but has a considerable 
part of the time been furnished with a stated supply, each con- 
tinuing for a short period. Rev. Messrs. John Shepherd, Caleb 
Alexander, Roger Adams, Oren Hyde, A. Hale, Ezekiel J. Chap- 
man, and Alfred C. Lathrop, have severally ministered to this 
church, as stated supplies. These were there from one to three 
years each. The church has received aid from the American 
Home Missionary Society since 1822. There have been no gene- 
ral revivals in this church ; but there have been protracted meetings 
in which some good and much hurt has been done. Rev. A. Hale, 
from the Black River Association, distracted the church with per- 
fectionism, and Rev. Luther Myrick with unionism. Twenty 
male members broke away from the church at one time as per- 
fectionists. The church has a small house of worship, twenty-five 
feet by forty, erected in 1828. About one half of the people with- 
in three miles attend worship with this church. The Baptists and 
Methodists about equal the Presbyterians in ability to support the 
institutions of the gospel. 

Manlius. — This church was organized in 1815 or 1816, and was 
known as Manlius second church till 1831, when it took the name 
of Manlius Square. Of late years it has been denominated the 
church of Manlius. Its location is at Manlius village, formerly 
known as Manlius Square, where the church has a commodious 
house of worship. The church was received under the care of 
the Presbytery of Onondaga, Feb. 6th, 1816, and its connexion is 
still continued. In L825, the church is reported as vacant and 
numbering ninety-five members. Rev. Daniel C. Hopkins was 
installed pastor of this church in connexion with Manlius first (now 
Jamesville), Dec. 2d, 1818. In this relation he continued between 
two and three years, and was dismissed, June 23d, 1821. What 
ministerial aid the church enjoyed after the dismission of Mr. Hop- 
kins till 1826, is unknown to the writer. In that year Rev. Ralph 
Cushman was installed pastor of the church, and continued in that 
relation till Sept. 8th, 1830, at which period his dismission took 
place. During Mr. Cushman's pastorate the church seems to have 
been in a prosperous state. Members by a profession of faith in 
Christ, were added, in considerable numbers, from year to year. 
The first year fifteen were so added ; the next year, fifty-one ; the 
next, nineteen ; the next, ten ; and the last, fifteen — making an 
addition by profession, during his pastorate, of one hundred and 
ten members. His successor was Rev. Talcott Bates, who was 



PRESBYTERY OF ONONDAGA. 



315 



installed July 13th, 1831, and dismissed April 14th, 1832. During 
his ministry more than fifty were added to the church by profes- 
sion. After Mr. Bates's dismission, Rev. Carlos Smith officiated as 
stated supply to the church one or two years, and, after him, Rev. 
John J. Slocum. In 1842, Oct. 5th, Rev. Dennis Piatt was in- 
stalled pastor of the church, and continued in this relation till Feb. 
25th, 1845, when he was dismissed. During his connexion with 
the church, in 1843, the church reported two hundred and forty- 
four members, the greatest number ever reported by them. Of 
these forty-seven had united by profession, since the next preced- 
ing report. The present pastor, Rev. Parsons C. Hastings, was 
ordained and installed, Feb. 12th, 1846. This church has always 
supported its own pastor without foreign aid. 

Manlius Centre. — The location of this church was on the Erie 
canal. It was originally denominated Manlius Fourth Church, but, 
since 1831, Manlius Centre. It was received under the care of 
the Presbytery, Sept. 4th, 1822. The author supposes that this was 
soon after its organization. It was never a flourishing church. 
After its organization its members scattered, and the church be- 
came virtually extinct. It was re-organized, Sept. 3d, 1828, at 
which period it consisted of eleven members, and appears from 
that time, for a season, to have enjoyed the ministerial labors of 
Rev. Daniel Marsh. It increased to the number of thirty-three 
members ; but, at length, was torn to pieces, and became extinct, 
through the influence of Mr. Myrick and other errorists. It ap- 
pears, for the last time, on the report of the Presbytery to the 
General Assembly in 1834. 

Oran. — Oran is a small village in the town of Pompey, situated 
in the Cherry Valley turnpike, a short distance from the village of 
Manlius. The settlement of the town of Pompey commenced as 
early as 1793, but in what part of the town the first inhabitants 
located themselves is not known to the writer. A Congregational 
church was organized at an early period, denominated the second 
church of Pompey, by which name it was known till 1831, when it 
was known as the church of Oran. The date of the organization 
of this church is not known to the writer, nor its very early history. 
It was connected with the Middle Association, and on the dissolu- 
tion of that body fell under the care of the Presbytery of Onondaga. 
Its first pastor was Rev. Andrew Rawson. He continued a num- 
ber of years as pastor of the church, and was dismissed, Feb. 2d, 
1814. During his ministry the church was in a good degree pros- 
perous, and increased in numbers. He was succeeded by Rev. 
Truman Baldwin, who was installed Nov. 15th, 1815, and dis- 
missed June 10th, 1828, having held the pastoral office in this 
church almost thirteen years. The period of the ministry of Messrs. 



316 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Rawson and Baldwin constituted the halcyon days of this church. 
In the year 1825, the church reported one hundred members. 
Since Mr. Baldwin's dismission, the church has never had a regu- 
lar pastor, nor any regular supply of preaching, but for a part of 
the time. It declined, became distracted with the prevailing errors 
of the region, the majority renounced the jurisdiction of the Pres- 
bytery, and the minority were acknowledged as the church of 
Oran by the Presbytery, Sept. 4th, 1833 ; but the church declined, 
and finally became extinct. Its name is not found in the Presby- 
terial reports since 1834. Perhaps its near proximity to Manlius 
might have had an influence in hastening its dissolution. 

Pompey. — This church at its organization denominated Pompey 
First Church, and subsequently Pompey Hill, or Pompey, was one 
of the earliest formed churches in Western New York. It was 
organized a Congregational Church, and connected itself with the 
Middle Association at the organization of that body, and on its dis- 
solution was placed in connexion with the Presbytery of Onondaga. 
The period of its organization is not known to the writer. Rev. 
Hugh Wallis was installed as its pastor by an ecclesiastical council, 
Jan. 4th, 1803. This was the second instance of the settlement of 
a pastor on the Military Tract. Mr. Wallis continued to sustain 
the pastoral office for several years, and the church was much 
blessed under his ministry, but the precise date of his dismission is 
not known to the writer. In 1814, the church w 7 as reported as 
vacant. From the dismission of Mr. Wallis to 1819, the history of 
the church is not known to the writer ; but on the twentieth of 
January of that year, Rev. Jabez Chadwick was installed pastor of 
the church. His continuance, however, was not long, as he was 
dismissed Sept. 20th, 1820. After his dismission the church was 
without a pastor nearly two years. Rev. Eleazar S. Barrows was 
ordained and installed pastor of the church, Sept. 11th, 1822, and 
continued in the pastorate somewhat more than six years. During 
the period of his continuance, the church received large additions 
to its numbers. In 1827, twenty-two were reported by profession, 
and in 1828 forty-four. In 1825, the whole number of members 
was two hundred and thirty, and in 1828, two hundred and fifty- 
eight. Rev. Benjamin B. Stockton succeeded Mr. Barrows in the 
pastorate, and was installed, March 4th, 1829. He continued with 
the church about two years and a half, and was dismissed, Sept. 
7th, 1831. In 1832, the church was reported as vacant, but had 
during the preceding year received forty-one members by profes- 
sion. After the dismission of Mr. Stockton the church remained 
without a regularly installed pastor till 1845. In the meantime 
they had the assistance of stated supplies. Rev. John Gridley sup- 
plied for a season; after him Rev. Asa Rand. In the year 1834, 
the church reported fifty-five members added by profession, and 



PRESBYTERY OF ONONDAGA. 



317 



the whole number of members as three hundred and five, the great- 
est number ever reported. In 1845, Feb. 6th, Rev. Clinton Clark 
was ordained and installed pastor of the church. The number of 
members was two hundred and ten. For more than twenty years, 
the church has never reported less than two hundred and ten mem- 
bers. It has always been a strong and able church, and has been 
repeatedly blessed with gracious outpourings of the Holy Spirit in 
his reviving and converting influences. 

Pompey Centre. — This church is of recent date. It was received 
under the care of the Presbytery, Sept. 3d, 1844, and in 1846 re- 
ported twenty-one members as its whole number, five of whom 
had been received the previous year on profession. Rev. James 
C. Smith, July 20th, 1845, received a commission from the Ameri- 
can Home Missionary Society to labor with this church, and the 
commission was renewed the succeeding year. During the first 
year of his labors he was installed as pastor of the church. The 
prospects of the church are represented as encouraging. 

Delphi. — This is a small village near the south-eastern corner of 
the town of Pompey. A church was organized here, and received 
under the care of the Presbytery, Sept. 6th, 1831. No mention, 
on the records of the Presbytery, is made of it beyond the first 
stated meeting of the Presbytery after its reception, nor is its name 
to be found in any of the Presbyterial Reports. Whether the 
church has become extinct, or has formed some other ecclesiastical 
connexion, or stands in a state of independency, is not known to 
the writer. 

Tully. — This church was organized by the name of the First 
Congregational Church of Tully, and was taken under the care oi 
the Presbytery of Onondaga, April 10th, 1833. It was reported 
from year to year as vacant. No number of members is reported, 
except for the year 1840. The number at that time was twenty- 
one. The church was dissolved Sept. 15th, 1841. 

Otisco. — The town of Otisco is composed of parts of the original 
townships of Marcellus and Tully. It was incorporated in ]806. 
The first permanent settlements in the town were made about the 
year 1800. Many of the first settlers were religious persons, and 
at once set up public worship. A church was organized by Rev. 
Hugh Wallis, on the 9th day of May, 1803, consisting of eleven 
members. There were, however, as many more who were profes- 
sors of religion, and united soon afterwards. The church was 
organized a Congregational Church, and was connected with the 
Middle Association. On the dissolution of that body it became 
connected with the Presbytery of Onondaga. In 1825, this church 



318 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



was set off to the Presbytery of Cortland, and was, on its request, 
restored in 1828. On account of Congregational predilections, the 
church withdrew from the Presbytery, and became connected with 
the Oneida Association in 1833, but returned and was again taken 
under the care of the Presbytery, February 10th, 1841. For a few 
years after the organization of the church, but little preaching was 
enjoyed, except what was supplied by travelling missionaries. The 
church, however, were faithful, God blessed them, and their numbers 
and strength rapidly increased. Rev. William J. Wilcox was their 
first pastor. He was ordained and installed by the Middle Asso- 
ciation, June 25th, 1808. On account of ill health he was dismissed, 
September 25th, 1821. He was a faithful minister, and the church 
greatly flourished under his ministrations. At the same time that 
Mr. Wilcox was dismissed, Rev. Charles Johnston was ordained 
and installed pastor of the church. He continued about two 
years, and was succeeded by Rev. Richard S. Corning, who labored 
with them more than a year, and was then installed as pastor of the 
church, January 9th, 1825. The church at this time consisted of 
206 members. Mr. Corning continued with the church more than 
ten years. During the greater part of the period of Mr. Coming's 
ministry, the church flourished. The converting influences of the 
Holy Spirit were enjoyed. In 1827, the church reported thirty- 
eight members as received by profession ; in 1830, forty-six ; and 
in 1832, -eighty-four ; the church then numbering 312 members. 
During the latter part of Mr. Coming's ministry, the church was 
disturbed by the new measures, and he was dismissed, and left the 
church much divided. Rev. Levi Parsons immediately succeeded 
Mr. Corning as a stated supply for one year. Rev. Levi Griswold 
succeeded him, and continued three years. His successors were, 
Rev. Sidney Mills, for two years; and Rev. Thaddeus Pomeroy, 
two years ; and Rev. Clement Lewis, for a similar term. In 
August, 1846, Mr. Addison K. Strong, a licentiate, was engaged to 
preach to the congregation, and was ordained and installed pastor 
under favorable auspices, December 3d, 1846. The subjects of 
new measures and abolitionism have greatly distracted the church ; 
but they appear now to be harmonious. The church, at the time 
of the last report, numbered 249 members. 

About the time of the settlement of Mr. Wilcox, the congregation 
put up a temporary house of worship. In 1817, they erected a 
new one of good size, fifty-eight feet by fifty, with a steeple and 
belfry. The congregation in favorable weather may range from 
400 to 500. Through the centre of the town, and each way for a 
considerable distance, the great body of the people attend public 
worship, and generally with this church. On the borders of the 
town there are numbers of the Methodist denomination. 



La Fayette. — The town of La Fayette was organized by an act 



PRESBYTERY OF ONONDAGA. 



319 



of the Legislature, from parts of the towns of Onondaga and Pom- 
pey, in 1825. The first settlements in the town were made about 
the year 1798. The lands on the south consist of military lots. 
The northern part was purchased of the Onondaga Indians by the 
State, in 1802 and 1817. In the north-eastern section of the town, 
and near the village of Jamesville, was anciently an Indian Fort, the 
relics of which throw some light on the history of Western New 
York. These consist of human bones, beads, arrow-heads, an anvil, 
a musket-barrel, horse-shoes of a rude structure, a small dial, a brass 
crucifix, a medal of lead — on one side of which is a representation 
of the Saviour on the cross, and on the reverse, Satan, evidently a 
rude imitation — broken pieces of sea-shells, &c. According to 
tradition, when the French were in possession of Canada, Catholic 
missionaries came among the Onondagas, by way of Oswego. The 
Indians becoming jealous of the French expelled the missionaries. 
One of them refusing to leave, and being found at Salina, was put 
to death by having a heated ploughshare hung to his neck. A 
detachment of the French, to avenge the injury done to their 
countrymen, came on from Lake Ontario, gave battle to the Indians, 
and burned their fort. 

In 1799, a state road from Cazenovia to Skeneatoles was laid 
through this town. Where this road intersects the road from 
Syracuse to Tully village, stands the Congregational Church. It 
is erected on a plot of one acre of ground, generously donated as a 
site for a church by Captain Joseph Rhoades and Erastus Baker. 
This site has given name to the village which is usually denomi- 
nated "La Fayette Square." The inhabitants of the town are 
mostly from Massachusetts, New Jersey, and the eastern counties 
of this State. For a number of years the inhabitants enjoyed occa- 
sional preaching from travelling missionaries and others, but no 
stated ministration of the word. 

In October, 1809, a Congregational church, consisting of twenty- 
two members, was organized by Rev. Benjamin Bell. The church 
till 1826 was known as Pompey third church, or Pompey West 
Hill. It now numbers one hundred and thirty-five members. Its 
first ecclesiastical connexion was with the Middle Association. On 
the division of that body it fell to the Presbytery of Onondaga, with 
which it has continued to the present time. On the sixth day of 
October, 1814, Rev. Ebenezer I. Leavenworth was installed as' the 
first pastor of this church, in connexion with Manlius first church. 
His continuance was about three years. He was succeeded by 
Rev. Daniel C. Hopkins, as stated supply for three years, and he 
by Rev. Martin Powell, who continued seven years. The next in 
succession was Rev. Alexander B. Corning, who was installed pas- 
tor of the church, Oct. 25th, 1831. His continuance was about 
three years. After him Rev. Seth Smalley, Rev. Absalom K. Barr, 
and Rev. Parshal Terry, severally ministered as stated supplies to 



320 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



this congregation, the latter for three years. On the 25th day of 
February, 1845, Rev. George E. Delavan was installed pastor of 
the church, and still retains his station. 

This church has enjoyed four precious seasons of revival. The 
first extended revival "was under the ministry of Mr. Powell, in 
which about sixty hopeful conversions took place. The church had 
been advised to turn away their minister, being somewhat advanced 
in years, and get a younger revival man, but a precious work of 
grace was experienced under the labors of the Lord's faithful ser- 
vant. The second was under the preaching of Mr. Corning, adding 
to the church between thirty and forty members. The third was 
under the ministry of Mr. Smalley, assisted by Dr. D. C. Lansing, 
as the result of which about forty were added to the church. The 
last was under the ministry of Mr. Terry, assisted by Rev. Thomas 
Castleton. As the fruits of this revival, seventeen were added to 
the church. 

The church edifice was erected in 1819, and cost about $3000. 
In 1844 it was repaired after the modern style, and furnished by 
the Female Benevolent Society. In 1846 a neat session house was 
built, and a suite of sheds, which are an important appendage to 
every country church. The church is out of debt, and prosperous 
in its financial concerns. 

Jamesville. — The village of Jamesville is situated on the great 
Western Turnpike, in the northern part of the town of De Witt. 
The church was formed at an early period, and was then denomi- 
nated Manlius, or Manlius first, as the region at that time was in- 
cluded in the town of Manlius. It was connected with the Middle 
Association during the existence of that body, and on its demise 
came under the care of the Presbytery of Onondaga. After the 
Myrick excitement it seceded from the Presbytery, and in 1837 is 
not found on the reports of the Presbytery. It was again, on re- 
quest, received under the care of the Presbytery, Sept. 6th, 1843. 
Of its number of members, the author has no information till 1825. 
It then consisted of sixty members. In 1831 it reported one hun- 
dred and forty members. Rev. Ebenezer I. Leavenworth was in- 
stalled pastor of this church, in connexion with that of La Fayette, 
Oct. 6th, 1814. He was dismissed from his pastoral charge, Feb. 
4th, 1818. Rev. Daniel C. Hopkins was installed pastor of the 
church, with that of Manlius second, Dec. 2d, 1818, and was dis- 
missed June 23d, 1821. In 1825 the church is reported as vacant : 
from that period down to 1829, as furnished with a stated supply. 
May 28th, 1829, Rev. Seth J. Porter was installed as pastor of the 
church, and continued in that relation till Sept. 7th, 1831. From 
that period it is generally reported vacant till it ceased to be re- 
ported by the Presbytery. During Mr. Porter's ministry a reli- 
gious excitement prevailed, as the result of which, between forty 



PRESBYTERY OF ONONDAGA. 



321 



and fifty members, by profession, were added to the church. How- 
far this was a revival of pure religion, the author will not take upon 
himself the responsibility of determining. Some untoward circum- 
stances were consequent upon" it, and the church was greatly dis- 
tracted for a season. What the present state and prospects of the 
church are, is unknown to the writer. They have an appropriate 
house of worship, but are much intermixed with other denomina- 
tions. 

Fayetteville. — This is a village in the town of Manlius, near the 
Erie Canal, with which it is connected by a feeder. A Presbyte- 
rian Church, consisting of twenty-three members, was organized, 
May 6th, 1830, by Rev. Messrs. Seth J. Porter, Ralph Cushman, 
and Hiram R. Kellogg, acting as a committee of the Presbytery 
appointed for the purpose. The following persons with letters of 
dismission from the church of Manlius Square, viz. John McVicar 
and Rhoda his wife, James Stewart and Sarah his wife, Levi Carr 
and Ruth his wife, Watson Case and Esther his wife, Mary Pratt, 
Marcia Pratt, Esther Case, Orpha Sennett, Margaret Jackson, Har- 
riet Jackson, James C. Jackson, Hannah Jones, Rebecca Flint, 
Ann Hurlbut, Maria Gregory, Margaret Lyon, Sally Sibley, and 
Isaac Hall, together with Philip Flink by letter from the Presbyte- 
rian church of Smithfield, Dutchess County, constituted the church. 
After the organization of the church, John McVicar and James 
Stewart were elected deacons, and John McVicar, James 
Stewart, and Philip Flink were elected ruling elders, to which 
offices they were solemnly set apart, the first Sabbath in August 
following. Rev. Samuel Manning for a few months ministered to 
this infant church. From about a year after its organization till 
October, 1832, Rev. Erastus H. Adams officiated as stated supply. 
Rev. Ethan Smith labored here from November, 1833, til] April, 
1844, when Rev. Stephen S. Smith came as stated supply, and 
remained about two years. In the latter part of the year 1836, 
Rev. Amos C. Tuttle commenced his labors with the church, and 
was installed as their pastor, June 28th, 1837. He continued in 
the pastoral office till Sept. 15th, 1841, when his relation was dis- 
solved. At that period, Rev. Richard F. Cleveland was engaged 
as a stated supply, and so continued till Sept. 19th, 1844, when he 
was installed pastor, and so remains at this date. The church 
during seasons of destitution have received important aid from 
Rev. Messrs. Robert W. Condit, James I. Ostrom, Oren Hyde, 
George Freeman, Jonathan Laird, and others. The church receiv- 
ed aid from the American Home Missionary Society, one or two 
years, in the support of Rev. Erastus H. Adams. Since Mr. 
Adams left them they have uniformly supported their ministers 
without foreign aid. The whole number of members who have 
at different times been connected with the church, is four hundred 

21 



322 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



and eleven. The greatest number at any one time (1846) is two 
hundred and nine ; the present number, one hundred and ninety- 
three. A house of worship (the first in the place) was erected in 
the year 1829. In dimensions it was sixty feet by forty, with a 
basement, and surmounted by a bell. It has lately undergone con- 
siderable repair, and a change of construction inside to accommo- 
date more hearers. 

The village of Fayetteville, formerly denominated Manlius Four 
Corners, contains about one thousand inhabitants. The leading 
part of the population are religious, or favorable to the institutions 
of the gospel. Besides the Presbyterians, the Baptists, Methodists, 
and Episcopalians have each an establishment in the village and a 
house of worship, and maintain the usual ordinances of the gospel 
with more or less constancy. The first inhabitants of the place 
were of the Baptist denomination, and a church of that order was 
established prior to the organization of any other. But it declined 
for a season. Afterwards it revived, became numerous and re- 
spectable, and now constitutes the largest religious community in 
the village. This community erected a house of worship of the 
same dimensions as the Presbyterian, about the year 1833. The 
Presbyterians are next to the Baptists in numerical strength, and 
the next in order are the Methodists. This denomination erected 
a house for worship previous to the Baptists, but it was afterwards 
sold, and used since for an Academy. They erected their present 
house of worship ten or twelve years since. The Episcopalians,, 
who are the least numerous of the evangelical denominations, 
erected their house of worship about the year 1834 or 1835. Re- 
vivals of religion have been repeatedly enjoyed in the village, by 
which all the churches have been more or less affected. 

Dewitt or Orville. — This church, in the Presbyterial reports, until 
1832, is denominated Manlius third. After that period it has uni- 
formly the name of Orville. The village has usually been called 
Orville. It is situated in the town of Dewitt, formerly a part of the 
town of Manlius. The settlement of the village commenced in the 
year 1791, by the late John Young, Esq., who removed his family 
to the place from Ballston, in November of that year. From this 
circumstance the place received the name of Youngsville, and was 
so called till 1814 or '15, when it received the name of Orville, and 
was so known till the organization of the town of Dewitt. The 
oldest person in the village connected with the Young family, says, 
the first sermon she ever heard preached in the place, was by 
Rev. Dr. Lansing; but she does not remember the year. The 
first stated preaching, and establishment of a church organization, 
was by the Methodist denomination. A class was formed by them 
consisting of eight members, in November, 1811. They built a 
house N of worship in 1819 or 1820 ; and, although their Society is 



PRESBYTERY OF ONONDAGA. 



323 



small, have since remodelled it, with a view to convenience and 
appearance. 

A church of the Congregational Order, consisting of eight mem- 
bers of different churches, was organized by Rev. John Alexander, 
February 25th, 1815. It became connected with the Presbytery 
of Onondaga, February 4th, 1817. ' The church since its organi- 
zation has elected ruling elders, but the brethren at large deliberate 
and. vote with the session. The church since its organization has 
had but one settled pastor, Rev. Joel Bradley. He was installed 
pastor by the Presbytery of Onondaga, September 3d, 1822, and 
removed by death, August 3d, 1830, after an illness of only nine 
days. Mr. Bradley was a good and faithful pastor, and was much 
beloved by his people. As stated supplies "for longer or shorter 
periods, the following may be named : Rev. Messrs. John Alex- 
ander, Joseph Edwards, Caleb Alexander, Ebenezer I. Leaven- 
worth, Charles Johnston, Daniel C. Hopkins, Mathew Harrison, 
Simon Snow, Hezekiah N. Woodruff, John Barton, Horatio J. 
Lombard, Samuel Manning, Edward Fairchild, George Freeman, 
Edward Wheeler, William Worden, Alfred C. Lathrop, and Joseph 
Myers. The latter still continues to minister to the church. 
Although seasons of refreshing have been enjoyed by the church, 
the number of its members has at no time been large, and has much 
diminished of late years, though somewhat increasing again since 
1843. The highest number at any one time is eighty-four, and the 
least number, twenty-seven. This was in 1843. In 1832, twenty- 
one members were reported as added on profession in the preced- 
ing year. The last report (1846) makes the number then belong- 
ing to the church, forty-two. 

The church has a house of worship, built in 1819-20, which has 
since been remodelled and improved. It is in dimensions forty-six 
by thirty-six feet, with a steeple, but without a bell. The church 
has been aided in the support of its ministers by the Western 
Domestic Missionary Society, and also by the American Home 
Missionary Society. By the latter in the support of Messrs. 
Woodruff, Fairfield, Freeman, and Wheeler. The attendance 
on public worship on the Sabbath is by no means large, or in 
proportion to the number of inhabitants. 

Britton Settlement. — This is situated in the northern part of the 
town of De Witt. The settlement commenced in 1805. A cor- 
respondent observes, " the first settlers were Brittons." Whether 
they were persons of the name of Britton, or emigrants from 
Great Britain, is not clear to the writer, especially as some of them 
are spoken of afterwards as born in Ireland. Public worship by 
the Presbyterians was established in 1842, though a Methodist 
Episcopal class had been organized some years previous. The 
Presbyterian church was organized in October, 1843, by Rev. Dr. 
Lansing, Rev. A. C. Tuttle, and Rev. Joseph Myers, with seven- 



324 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



teen members. A correspondent says : " We have members from 
the church in Salina ; from Manlius Centre, where was once a 
Congregational church torn to pieces by Myrick ; some from 
Matthews's Mills ; some from Dutch Seceders, Episcopal, Method- 
ist, Baptist, Congregational, and Presbyterian churches. Some 
of them were born and bred in Ireland." The church, in 1846, 
numbered sixty members. They have had no regularly installed 
pastor. Rev. A. W. Seeley acted as stated supply one year, in 
1842-3. In 1843, Rev. Alfred C. Lathrop was employed as stated 
supply, in connexion w r ith the church of Matthews's Mills, and, as 
far as is known to the author, still continues. An interesting 
revival of religion was enjoyed in the spring of 1843, adding con- 
siderably to the strength of the church. They have a beautiful 
house of worship, forty-six feet by thirty-four, and fourteen feet posts, 
which was erected in 1844, and was in a course of being finished 
the next year. The church has been aided for two years to the 
amount of 850 a year, by the American Home Missionary Society. 
It is represented as an interesting and promising region, w 7 hicb ? 
with the blessing of God, affords the hope and promise of a large 
church. It is estimated that about three-eighths of the population 
within four miles attend worship with the church. The Methodist 
congregation is nearly as large as the Presbyterian. 

Cicero. — The Presbyterian church of Cicero was received un- 
der the care of the Presbytery of Onondaga, Dec. 17th, 1816. 
The author supposes that it had then recently been organized. In 
1825, it was reported as containing thirty-four members, and as 
vacant. In June, 1829, Rev. Truman Baldwin was commissioned 
by the American Home Missionary Society to labor here. He 
seems to have continued his labors under the patronage of the So- 
ciety, at least three years. After him Rev. Publius V. Bogue 
officiated, under the patronage of the Society, one year. After 
Mr. Bogue, Mr. Baldwin seems again to have been employed as 
stated supply. During the first period of Mr. Baldwin's ministry 
with this church, there were from year to year goodly additions 
made to the church by profession, indicating the presence of the 
Holy Spirit by his converting influences. In 1829, fifty-two, in 
1831, twenty-one, and in 1832, thirteen are reported as being 
added by profession. The whole number of members at the latter 
period, was one hundred and fifteen, the highest number ever 
reported. Sept. 1st, 1835, this church was dismissed from its con- 
nexion with the Presbytery, to unite with the Classis of Cayuga of 
the Reformed Dutch Church. 

Liverpool. — This village is situated on the Onondaga lake, in 
the town of Salina. The Presbyterian church was organized in 
the latter part of 1820, or very early the following year. It was 



PRESBYTERY OF ONONDAGA. 



325 



received under the care of the Presbytery, Jan. 27th, 1834. It 
then numbered twenty members. Rev. Phinehas Camp, under 
the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, labored 
here one year from August, 1829. Rev. Edward Fairchild suc- 
ceeded him, and labored two years, alternately in this place and 
in Orville. Rev. Oren Hyde labored one year, half of the time 
from October, 1838, and was succeeded by Rev. William B. Wor- 
den in 1841, who continued for a short period. Rev. Amos C. 
Turtle commenced laboring with this congregation in 1841, and 
continued four years. He was succeeded by Rev. Luther Conkling, 
in August, 1844, who continued till June, 1846. He was succeed- 
ed by Rev. Elisha B. Sherwood, under whom the congregation 
has been steadily increasing, and who has labored among the 
boatmen with much success. In the support of all these ministers 
the chureh has been aided by the funds of the American Home 
Missionary Society. Under the ministry of Mr. Tuttle the church 
was blessed with a revival. In 1843, eighty-two was reported as 
the whole number of members, of whom twenty-eight had been 
received on a profession of faith, since the last previous report. 
In 1841, the church erected a house of worship. 

Salina. — This village, formerly known by the name of Salt Point, 
began to be settled at a very early period. The settlement, how- 
ever, was but small for a considerable number of years, owing, per- 
haps, in some measure, to the unhealthiness of the place. Many 
of the residents were transient persons, coming for a short season 
for the purpose of making salt, and then retiring. This place in its 
early history was notorious for its irreligion and immorality ; but 
In process of time a better description of inhabitants came in, and 
the complexion of the society was much improved. At what time 
public worship was instituted, or a Presbyterian church organized, 
is not known to the writer. The church was received under the 
care of the Presbytery of Onondaga, Feb. 5th, 1822. This was 
probably soon after its organization. On the twenty-sixth of Feb- 
ruary of the same year, Rev. Hutchins Taylor was installed pastor 
of the church. He was dismissed, as the writer believes, in 1826 
or '27. In 1825, the church numbered forty-three members ; in 
1826, seventy five are reported, thirty-two having been added 
during the preceding year. The next year eleven w^ere added, 
and the year after, thirty-seven, making the whole number in 1828 
one hundred and ten. On the twenty-fourth day of June, 1829, 
Rev. James I. Ostrom was installed pastor of the church, and con- 
tinued three or four years. During his ministry tke church re- 
ceived large accessions to its number. In 1831, eighty-four ; in 
1832, forty- six; and the next year, twenty are reported as added 
to the church by profession. In 1832, the church numbered two 
hundred and forty-eight members. This is the highest number 



326 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



ever reported. In 1834, Rev. Joseph I. Foote is reported as pastor. 
He continued with the church but a short season. On the nine- 
teenth day of July, 1836, Rev. Hutchins Taylor was again instal- 
led pastor of this church, and continued in the station about three 
years. Since his dismission Rev. Joseph Myers officiated as 
stated supply for a season, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas 
Castleton, who still continues. In 1836, the whole number of mem- 
bers reported was two hundred and twenty-four ; in 1840, it was 
ninety-seven. The cause of such a great diminution in so short a 
period is not known to the writer. The church, in 1846, reported 
its number as ninety-seven members. This church has a commo- 
dious house of worship built some years since. 

Syracuse. — This city, situated on the Erie Canal, where it unites 
with the Oswego canal, is of recent origin. On the completion of 
the Erie Canal in 1825, the place began to attract the attention of 
capitalists, as a favorable place for business. As a village it was 
incorporated that year, though containing at that period but a small 
population. From that period the influx of inhabitants has been 
very great. In 1840 it contained more than six thousand inhabit- 
ants. A church of the Presbyterian order was organized April 
6th, 1826, consisting of twenty-six members, and was received un- 
der the care of the Presbytery of Onondaga. On the twenty-eighth 
day of the same month, Rev. John W. Adams (now Dr. Adams) 
was ordained and installed pastor of the church. In this relation 
Dr. Adams still continues, a rare instance of any great stability to 
the pastoral relation. During the first year of Dr. Adams's minis- 
try the church were aided in his support by the United Domestic 
Missionary Society, and in the second year by the American Home 
Missionary Society. It was not long that the church needed this 
aid. In a short time they were not only able to support their own 
pastor, but to contribute largely to aid those who were feeble. In 
1828, twenty-eight members were reported as having been added 
to the church the previous year ; in 1831, twenty, by profession: 
in 1832, ninety-four, and the next year thirty. These additions 
from the world to the church, indicated the presence of the Holy 
Spirit by his converting influences on the hearts of sinners. The 
church, notwithstanding other churches have been formed from it, 
has steadily increased in number, till in 1843 it numbered three 
hundred and seventy-one members. From that period the writer 
is not informed. 

Syracuse Congregational Church. — The period of the rise of this 
church, and the circumstances connected with it, are unknown to 
the writer. It was, on its application, received under the care oi 
the Presbytery of Onondaga, September 13th, 1842, and was relin- 
quished on its withdrawal, September 5th, 1843. At the time of 



PRESBYTERY OF ONONDAGA. 



327 



its union with the Presbytery, Rev. Dirck C. Lansing, D.D., offici- 
ated as stated supply to the church. The church at that time con- 
sisted of about 260 members. What connexion the church now 
has, or what is its state, are unknown to the writer. 

Syracuse Second Presbyterian Church. — This church was received 
under the care of the Presbytery, September 3d, 1844, having been 
recently organized. It has not prospered, and may be considered 
as virtually dissolved. 

Onondaga First Church or West Hill. — The first attempt by 
white men to settle in this town was made by Ephraim Webster, in 
1786, who, with consent of the Indians, settled in Onondaga. The 
next spring Asa Danforth and Comfort Tyler moved on their fami- 
lies to the town, consent of the Indians for that purpose having been 
obtained for them by Mr. Webster. This place at that time was a 
part of the town of Whitestown. The first Presbyterian Church 
of Onondaga was organized, with thirteen members living in dif- 
ferent parts of the town, in August, 1806. It was received under 
the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, the only Presbytery at that 
time existing in New York west of Oneida, November 3d, 1807. 
On the 2d day of December following, Rev. Dirck C. Lansing (now 
Dr. Lansing), then a licentiate, was ordained by the Presbytery, 
and installed pastor of the church. Some measure of revival was 
enjoyed by this church, and a number (probably about twenty) were 
added to the communion of the church. February 7th, 1810, Mr. 
Lansing was dismissed from his pastoral charge. At this time the 
church had increased to the number of ninety members, of whom 
forty were dismissed to form the church of Onondaga Hoi lew, 
leaving about fifty in the original church. Rev. Jabez Chadwick 
was installed pastor of this church, August 1st, 1810. In this year, 
the Presbytery of Onondaga was organized, and this church came 
under its care. Mr. Chadwick's continuance with the church as 
its pastor was limited to a short period, not more than one or two 
years. From the period of Mr. Chadwick's dismission to October 
9th, 1821, the writer has no information respecting the history of 
this church. At this date Rev. William Bacon was installed its 
pastor. How long he continued in this relation, is not known to 
the writer. In 1825, the church is reported as vacant, and as con- 
taining 160 members, a larger number than has at any one time 
been reported since. For several years from this period the church 
is reported sometimes as vacant, and sometimes as supplied, till 
1830. February 11th of that year, Rev. John H. Prentice was 
installed as pastor of the church. He is reported as pastor to 1834. 
On the 8th day of April of that year, his name at his own request 
was stricken from the roll of ministers belonging to the Presbytery. 
During Mr. Prentice's pastorate, a considerable number of mem- 



328 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



bers were added to the church by profession, while at the same 
time the aggregate number was decreasing. In 1834, the whole 
number reported was 115. Mr. Prentice became grossly unsound 
in doctrine and practice, harmonizing with Mr. Myrick and his fol- 
lowers. The church seems to have harmonized with him in his 
views to a great extent. It was dropped from the list of churches, 
February 8th, 1842 ; the remnant were received as a Congregational 
Church under the care of the Presbytery. In 1843, the church 
consisted of forty-nine members. In 1847, they report but thirty- 
six. In the month of September, 1845, Rev. Charles Machin w r as 
commissioned by the American Home Missionary Society to 
minister to this church for one year, and at the close of that period 
his commission was renewed, and the church appeared to be rising 
from the dust of humiliation into which she had fallen. 

Onondaga Hollow. — This church, as has already been noticed, 
derived its origin from the church on the West Hill. In Novem- 
ber, 1809, the members of the original Religious Society, who re- 
sided in the Hollow and eastern part of the town, in connexion 
with the people of Salina, formed a separate Society, organized ac- 
cording to law, and the members of the original church, residing in 
the Hollow and Salina, amounting to about forty in number, were, 
on the fourteenth day of March following, by the Presbytery of 
Geneva, constituted a Presbyterian church, and Rev. Dirck C. Lan- 
sing was at the same time installed as their pastor. This church 
was originally denominated Onondaga second church, but since 
1831 has been more generally known as the church of Onondaga 
Hollow. Mr. Lansing continued the pastor of the church till Feb. 
2d, 1814, when the relation was dissolved. The church remained 
without a pastor, supplied at times by different ministers, till Feb. 
6th, 1817, when Rev. Samuel T. Mills was installed as pastor. He 
was dismissed, Sept. 2d, 1818. His successor was Rev. James W. 
Mills, who was installed as pastor, Nov. 8th, 1820. Mr. Mills con- 
tinued in the pastoral office until his death, which occurred in May, 
1824. Rev. Washington Thatcher was the next pastor of this church. 
He was installed pastor in 1823. He was succeeded by Rev. 
Elijah Buck, who was installed, Oct. 16th, 1833, and dismissed, Oct. 
1st, 1834. Since Mr. Buck's dismission, no pastor has been settled. 
Until 1839, different ministers and licentiates were employed as 
stated supplies for short periods ; but in November of that year, , 
Rev. George H. Hulin was engaged as stated supply, and, in 1846, 
was still engaged in that capacity. During the pastorate of Rev. 
James H. Mills, a measure of revival was experienced, and twenty- 
seven members were added to the church. Also during Mr. 
Thatcher's ministry, the work was revived, and a goodly number 
by profession were added to the church. In 1831, thirty-three 
such additions were reported, and in the next year, forty-eight. In 



PHESBYTERY OF ONONDAGA. 



329 



1825, the church reported eighty-six members; in 1832, one hun- 
dred and thirty-six, and in 1846, eighty-three. The church in Sa- 
lina was formed mostly of members from this church ; the church 
in Orville (De Witt) in part, and in 1835, a colony including thir- 
teen members of this church, went out to form a settlement, and 
organize a church in Illinois. 

This church has always supported its own ministers without 
foreign aid. They have a large and commodious house of wor- 
ship, sixty feet by forty-eight, exclusive of the portico, erected in 
1811, at an expense of 88,000. The proportion of the inhabitants 
usually attending public worship, is estimated as about one fourth. 
There is a small Methodist Episcopal Church in the Village. 

South Onondaga. — This church was originally denominated 
Onondaga third church, afterwards Onondaga South Hollow, but 
more recently South Onondaga. It was received under the care 
of the Presbytery of Onondaga, Sept. 2d, 1829. The writer sup- 
poses that it had then recently been organized. In 1840, it re- 
ported thirty-three members. This is the only report of the num- 
ber of members found on record. Rev. John W, Lawton was in- 
stalled as pastor of this church, Feb. 1834. He was dismissed 
Oct. 1st, the same year, and deposed from the ministry, Sept. 1st, 
1835. The church has never had any other pastor, and has gene- 
rally been reported as vacant. In the month of September, 1845, 
Rev. Samuel Williams received a commission from the American 
Home Missionary Society to labor with this church. His commis- 
sion was renewed the next year. 

Camillus. — The town of Camillus originally included Elbridge. 
The settlement of the town commenced in 1790. The present 
church of Camillus was probably organized in 1816 or '17. It was 
then named Camillus second church, Elbridge being the first. It 
was received under the care of the Presbytery of Onondaga, Sept. 
2d, 1817. Rev. Jabez Spicer was ordained and installed its pas- 
tor, March 18th, 1818. The author supposes that he was dismissed 
in October, 1819, as he was then suspended from the ministerial 
office. From the period of Mr. Spic'er's dismission to 1831, the 
author believes that no pastor was settled. The church is some- 
times reported as vacant, and sometimes as statedly supplied, but 
by whom is not known to the writer. Sept. 27th, 1831, Rev. Ben- 
jamin B. Stockton was installed as pastor, and continued in that 
station about three years. He was succeeded by Rev. Moody 
Harrington, who was installed Oct. 1st, 1834. How long Mr. 
Harrington continued in the pastorate is not known to the writer. 
He was dismissed from the Presbytery Sept. 10th, 1839. Rev. 
Josiah J. Ward was his successor, being installed June 22d, 1841, 
In 1846 we find the church again vacant. In 1825 the church re- 



330 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



ported one hundred and twenty-one members ; in 1846 one hun- 
dred and fifty. This is the highest number ever reported. Eleven 
is the highest number reported as being received by profession in 
any one year. This was in 1832, during the pastorate of Mr. Stock- 
ton. This church has a commodious house of worship, built a 
number of years since. 

Camillus Third Church, — This church was originally denominat- 
ed the Central Congregational church of Camillus. It is designat- 
ed in the reports of the Presbytery as Camillus third, till 1831. It 
was received under the care of the Presbytery, Oct. 11th, 1825. 
The next year it was reported as consisting of eighteen members. 
The highest number ever reported is forty-two. This was in 1830, 
the last time that the name is found in the Presbyterial reports. Up 
to this period the church is uniformly reported as vacant, with one 
exception. In the report for 1832 it is denominated Canton. 

Van Buren. — The church in this place seems to have been a re- 
organization of the church of Canton, or Camillus third, in connex- 
ion with Warner's Settlement, on the Presbyterian plan of church 
government. It was received under the care of the Presbytery, 
Sept. 4th, 1832, and its name is found on the annual reports of the 
Presbytery till 1836. No statistics are given in these reports, ex- 
cept that the church was vacant till the last report, when Rev. 
James T. Hough was officiating as stated supply. From this period 
the church seems to have withdrawn from connexion with the Pres- 
bytery for several years, but was again taken under the care of the 
Presbytery, Feb. 6th, 1843. It w r as finally disbanded on the organi- 
zation of the church of Amboy. 

Amboy. — This is a small village in the town of Camillus, situated 
on the Nine Mile Creek. The Presbyterian Church in this place 
was organized in December, 1845, in a considerable measure from 
members who had constituted the church of Van Buren. In 1846, 
Rev. Alfred C. Lathrop is reported as stated supply to this church. 

Baldwinsville. — This village is situated on the Seneca River. 
About two thirds of the village lies on the north side of the river 
in the town of Lysander. The remaining part is on the south side 
in the town of Van Buren. The first permanent settlement on the 
south side of the river, was made in 1794, by Mr. John McHane, 
who had purchased a lot of land in that location. On the north 
side of the river, Dr. Jonas C.Baldwin fixed his residence in 1808. 
This was the beginning of the settlement of the village on the 
north side of the river, and from Dr. Baldwin the village derived 
its origin and name. In other parts of the town of Lysander, 
there were settlements as early as 1800, or, perhaps, even earlier. 



PRESBYTERY OF ONONDAGA. 



331 



In the early days of the settlement, the people were visited occa- 
sionally by itinerant missionaries, and public worship was instituted 
by Mr. Silas Scofield, a Baptist exhorter. A Presbyterian Church, 
consisting of fourteen members, was organized by Rev. Ebenezer 
Lazell, July 31st, 1813. Until 1832, it was known as Lysander 
First Church ; since that period, by the name of Baldwinsville. 
Mr. Lazel probably preached to the congregation before the organi- 
zation of the church, and for a short season afterwards. Rev. 
John Davenport resided here several years, and preached more or 
less to this congregation, till the period of his death, which took 
place, July 13th, 1821. Rev. Stephen V. Barnes, Rev. Josiah 
Mattoon, Rev. Jephtha Pool, Rev. Truman Baldwin, and others, sup- 
plied here at different times, and for various periods, till Oct. 25th, 
1837, at which date, Rev. P. K. Williams was installed as pastor, 
and continued in this station till Feb. 12th, 1840, when he was dis- 
missed from his pastoral office, and suspended from the ministry- 
After his dismission the pulpit was temporarily supplied till March 
12th, 1844. At this date Rev. Townsend Walker, the present 
pastor, was ordained and installed. In 1825, the church numbered 
sixty members. In 1843, it reported one hundred and one, and in 
July, 1846, it consisted of ninety-six members. There was an 
interesting revival in 1831, under the ministry of Rev. Edwards 
C. Beach, then officiating as stated supply, the benign influence of 
which is still felt in the church. Two or three seasons since that 
period, but not so durable in their effects, have exhibited the presence 
of the Divine Spirit in his converting influences. 

The church has several years been aided by the American Home 
Missionary Society in the support of its ministers, but not since 
1841. They have a very pleasant house of worship, which was 
built in 1830. It is fifty feet long, and forty feet broad. The 
Episcopal Methodists and the Baptists have also convenient houses 
of worship, and are respectively about equal in number and strength 
to the Presbyterians. The Episcopalians have a small organized 
society, and sometimes occupy the Presbyterian Church for a third 
service. They generally attend worship with the Presbyterian 
qjiurch. The Wesleyan and Protestant Methodists have each or- 
ganized societies in the village, but they do not flourish. 

Lysander. — This church has its location in the western part of 
the town of Lysander, at the village known in the vicinity by the 
name of Betts' Corners. The first log building was erected about 
1806, by Mr. Abner Vickory. Public worship was first set up in 
a private house, in 1817, principally through the agency of Deacon 
William Townsend from South Salem, Westchester county, and 
some pious families who began to come in about that time. They 
were favored with an occasional sermon from Rev. John Daven- 
port, who resided in the town, and labored in the region a con- 



332 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



siderable part of the time as an itinerant missionary. They were 
also visited and encouraged, from time to time, by Rev. David R. 
Dixon of Mexico and Rev. Oliver Eastman of Ira. The church 
was organized on the Presbyterian plan, Oct. 19, 1820, by Rev. 
Messrs. Davenport and Eastman, and was received under the care 
of the Presbytery, Feb. 7th, 1821. At its organization it consisted 
of nine members, and was denominated Lysander second church, 
Baldwinsville being the first. It was subsequently named, in the 
reports of the Presbytery, Lysander West, and latterly Lysander. 
In the infancy of the church, it was aided considerably by itinerat- 
ing missionaries. Of this class of laborers, Messrs. Snowden, Lane, 
Davenport, Abell, and Pool, are mentioned as having rendered im- 
portant services. As stated supplies, for a few months each, Rev. 
Messrs. Stephen V. Barnes, Horatio J. Lombard, William Clark, 
and Asahel Bronson may be named. The present pastor, Rev. 
Ebenezer C. Beach, commenced his labors with this congregation 
in 1832, and was installed as pastor of the church, Jan. 1st, 1834, 
and at the same time the house of worship was dedicated to the 
service of Almighty God. The first extensive revival enjoyed by 
this congregation was in the summer and fall of 1831, during 
which time the present pastor, then a stated supply at Baldwins- 
ville, frequently visited them and labored. This revival produced 
a very great change in the community for the better, and gave an 
entire new impulse to the church. Before this the church num- 
bered less than thirty members. From that time it has regularly 
increased, and now consists of about one hundred and thirty. Re- 
vivals, but not of equal power, were enjoyed in 1836, 1838, 1843, 
and 1846. 

This church is one of the few, which, in the midst of trials and 
excitements all around it, has maintained its steadfastness and union. 
The leading influence of the church has always been such as not 
easily to be moved by mere novelties, and the church have neither 
desired nor listened to any newer systems of theology than those 
which constituted the faith of their Puritan fathers of New Eng- 
land. One noticeable cause of this fixedness of sentiment may be 
found in the instruction of the Sabbath school, which embraces aM 
classes in the congregation, and is continued throughout the year. 
The church has been aided in the support of its pastor by the 
American Home Missionary Society, from '1832 to 1838. Since 
this last period it has supported its own pastor, and refunded the 
amount which it had received from the Society. The church has 
an appropriate house of worship. The community at large may 
be denominated a church-going people, a goodly proportion of 
which attend worship with the Presbyterian church. The Re- 
formed Dutch and Methodists have organized churches and houses 
of worship in the village. The Reformed Dutch have services 
every alternate Sabbath ; the Methodists one service each Sabbath. 
With these the Presbyterians are on terms of Christian friendship. 



333 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

Presbytery of Cayuga.— Victory, Ira, Cato, Weedsport, Mentz, Montezuma, Elbridge, 
Jordan,' Marceilus First Church, Marcellus Second Church, Skeneatoles, Borodino, 
Sennett, Auburn First Church, Auburn Second Church, Cayuga Village, Aurelius, 
Springport, Fleming, Scipio Second Church, Scipio First Church, Aurora, Mo- 
ravia, Summer Hill, Milan, Genoa First Church, Genoa Second Church, Genoa 
Third Church, Lansing, Genoa Free Congregational, East Groton, Kingston. 

The churches which next will claim our notice, are those which 
are, or have been connected with 

THE PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA. 

Beginning on the north^ we commence with the church of 

Victory. — The town of Victory embraces one quarter of the 
original military town of Cato. The settlement of the town was 
commenced about the year 1815, by a number of Dutch families, 
interspersed with some others from Connecticut and Vermont. 
The Dutch settlers who were professors of religion, were members 
of the Reformed Dutch Church. The Presbyterian Church, con- 
sisting of six members, was organized on the 20th day of Nov., 
1820, by Rev. Messrs. Eastman and Dunning. The whole number 
of persons that have been members of the church down to the com- 
mencement of the year 1846, is seventy-seven, of whom thirty-two 
remained in connexion with it at that period. The church has 
always been small and feeble, and has never had a regularly set- 
tled pastor. Rev. Messrs. Jephthah Pool, Martin Powell, William 
Williams, Phinehas Blakeman, Daniel Waldo, and Lemuel Dady — 
the last of whom now officiates have, at different periods, been 
stated supplies. Much of the time the church has been vacant, 
and at one time was in so low a state, as to intermit public wor- 
ship. They have been to a considerable extent assisted by the 
American Home Missionary Society, and at times have been aided 
by the students of the Theological Seminary at Auburn. Several 
seasons of religious revival have been experienced ; but they seem 
to have had but little effect in enlarging the Presbyterian Church. 
In the year 1841, the congregation erected a house of worship, at 
an expense of about $1400, which has been completed. It is in 
size about fifty feet by thirty-eight; is well built and very pleasant, 
and has a steeple. The Baptists and Episcopal Methodists have 
congregations more numerous than the Presbyterians. There has 
also for a number of years been a strong Campbellite influence 
existing, though now considerably on the wane. 



334 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Ira. — This place was originally a part of the old military town 
of Cato, and was settled at an early period. Among those who 
were early engaged in establishing and supporting religious insti- 
tutions, the families of the names of Conger, Van Wie, and Phelps, 
stand conspicuous. A church, consisting of fifteen members, and 
called the First Congregational Church of Cato, was organized, 
July 8th, 1807, by Rev. Francis Pomeroy. In 1823, the church 
elected ruling elders, and adopted the style of the First Presbyte- 
rian Church of Ira. The church became connected with the Pres- 
bytery of Cayuga, in the month of August, 1812, and has continued 
in that connexion to the present time. In 1836 nearly one half of 
its members received letters of dismission to form a new church in 
the present town of Cato. The largest number of members ever 
reported to the Presbytery, as belonging to this church, is one hun- 
dred and fifty-two. This was in the year 1833. The number 
reported in 1843 was one hundred and one; but a correspondent 
in September, 1845, states the number of resident members as less 
than sixty. In the early period of the history of this church, Rev. 
Messrs. David R. Dixon, Oliver Eastman, Jephthah Poole, and 
others, supplied them with preaching from time to time. In 1824, 
the congregation completed a house for public worship, in good 
style and commodious for use, of the size of about sixty feet by 
fifty. On the 12th day of July, 1826, Rev. Robert W. Hill, then a 
licensed preacher of the gospel, was ordained and installed pastor 
of the church, by the Presbytery of Cayuga. Mr. Hill continued 
till January 21st, 1829, when his pastoral relation was dissolved by 
the Presbytery. After Mr. Hill's dismission the church was sup- 
plied at different times for several years, by Rev. Messrs. Publius 
V. Bogue, Oliver Eastman, Chauncey Cook, and some others. 
During this period, as the writer believes, under the ministry of 
Mr. Cook, there was a blessed effusion of the Holy Spirit experienc- 
ed, as the result of which, sixty-three members were added to the 
church by profession, during the year ending April, 1832, and 
twenty-nine the next year. On the 10th day of June, 1834, Rev. 
William U. Benedict was ordained to the work of the ministry, 
and installed pastor of this church. Mr. Benedict ministered to the 
church till Jan. 21, 1840, when his pastoral relation was terminated 
by act of the Presbytery. During his ministry a measure of revival 
was enjoyed, so that the church was enlarged, in the year ending 
April, 1836, by the addition of eighteen members by profession, and 
the succeeding year by the addition of thirty-two. Since the dis- 
mission of Mr. Benedict, Rev. Julius Doane has officiated as a 
stated supply two years; Rev. Mr. Wilcox, one year ; Rev. Wm. 
Clark, three years ; Rev. Wm. Rowlat, six months, and at the pre- 
sent time Rev. John C. Morgan is engaged as a stated supply. 
This church has always supported its own ministers without aid 
from any Missionary Society. The church has been greatly 



PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA. 



335 



diminished by death, or the removal of its members to other places 
of residence. 

There are several classes of Methodists of two denominations, 
one Baptist Society, and many Campbellites, in the town. It is 
thought, however, that a larger number of hearers are found in 
the Presbyterian church when there is preaching, than in any 
other. 

Cato. — The present church of Cato is an emanation from the 
church of Ira, and was organized by a committee of the Presby- 
tery appointed for the purpose, and was recognised as a church in 
connexion with the Presbytery of Cayuga, April 13th, 1836. It is 
noticed in the statistical tables of the minutes of the General As- 
sembly for that year as vacant ; in the tables for the next year as 
still vacant, and numbering thirty-six members. In subsequent 
years it is reported as furnished with a stated supply. In 1846, 
Rev. James T. Hough is named as the supply. In 1840, the num- 
ber of members reported is sixty, fifteen having been added the 
previous year by profession ; in 1843, the whole number was one 
hundred and nineteen, the additions by profession having been 
twenty-four ; and in 1846, the whole number of members by report 
was one hundred and fifteen, and the additions by profession twen- 
ty-nine. This is all the information which the writer has concern- 
ing this church. 

Weedsport. — This church was formerly denominated the First 
Presbyterian Church of Brutus, and was received under the care 
of the Presbytery, Jan. 17th, 1826. It is supposed by the writer 
to have been at that time of recent organization. It is noticed in 
the statistical tables of the minutes of the General Assembly for 
the year 1826 and the five succeeding years as enjoying the mi- 
nistry of a stated supply. Rev. Justus S. Hough is named as the 
supply for the years 1829 and 1830. The number of members in 
1828 was seventy-one, of whom ten had been received the preced- 
ing year. In 1832 the number reported was eighty-two, of whom 
twelve had been received by profession the previous year. The 
number reported in 1846 was ninety-seven, the largest number 
ever reported. Rev. Daniel C. Hopkins was installed pastor of 
this church, April 28th, 1831, and continued in the pastoral office 
till Jan. 15th, 1833. From this period the church appears to have 
been furnished with stated supplies about ten years, among whom 
are found the names of Rev. Moses Ingalls and Rev. Melancton B. 
Williams. On the sixth day of March, 1844, Rev. Charles E. 
Avery was installed as pastor, and is still continued in that relation. 

Mentz. — This church has its location in the village of Port 



336 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Byron, and is generally called by that name. It was organized at 
an early period, but the precise date is not known to the writer. 
It was connected with the Middle Association, and, on the division 
of that body in 1811, was placed in connexion with the Presby- 
tery of Cayuga. It is noticed in the minutes of the General As- 
sembly for the years 1814 and 1819, as vacant, and unable to 
support a pastor. The number of members in 1825 was fifty-nine ; 
in 1833, one hundred and four; in 1840, one hundred and thirty- 
seven; and in 1846, seventy-six. In 1829, thirteen members are 
reported as having the preceding year been added to the church 
by profession ; in 1832, thirty-seven were thus added; in 1836, 
twenty-two ; and the next year, fifteen. These circumstances in- 
dicate that the years preceding these reports were, to some extent, 
years of revival. What amount of preaching the church enjoyed 
prior to the year 1824, is unknown to the writer. On the seven- 
teenth day of November, 1824, Rev. Birdseye Gibbs was ordained, 
and installed pastor of the church, by the Presbytery of Cayuga. 
His relation to the church continued but a short period. On the 
twenty-sixth day of July, 1826, he was by the Presbytery dis- 
missed from his pastoral charge, and suspended from the exercise 
of ministerial functions and the communion of the church. At a 
subsequent period he was deposed from the ministerial office. 
During the years 1828 and 1829, Rev. William Williams labored 
here as a stated supply, under the patronage of the American 
Home Missionary Society. His labors were attended with some 
measure of success. After Mr. Williams' departure the desk was 
supplied two or three years by Rev. Justus S. Hough. Under his 
ministry a greater number of additions to the church were made 
than had ever before been added in a single year. In 1836, Rev. 
James T. Hough was employed as a stated supply, under the 
patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. He pro- 
bably continued for a period of two years. In March, 1846, Rev. 
Thomas M. Hodgman received a commission from the American 
Home Missionary Society to labor as a stated supply in this con- 
gregation, and has continued to the present time. He reports the 
church as gaining in numbers, courage, and strength. The church 
has of late years been greatly weakened by the secession of a 
considerable number of its members to form a Presbyterian church 
under the care of the General Assembly (Old School). That 
church, in 1846, numbered ninety-one members, and had for its 
pastor, Rev. William T. Van Doren. It is connected w T ith the 
Presbytery of Steuben. Between these two churches an unhappy 
controversy arose respecting the ownership of the property be- 
longing to the original church, each claiming to be that church. 
This controversy was carried into the civil courts, and decided in 
favor of the New School church, on the ground that they were 



PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA. 



337 



the majority, and the others a secession. Both of these churches 
have commodious houses of worship. The Baptist denomination 
have also a house of worship in the village of Port Byron. 

Montezuma. — This church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Cayuga on the eighteenth day of January, 1825, 
and its name is uniformly found on the list of churches belonging 
to that Presbytery in the yearly reports till 1834. In January, 
1835, the Presbytery were informed that it had become ex- 
tinct. No number of members is mentioned in any of the re- 
ports, and the church is uniformly, with two exceptions, reported 
as vacant. It appears that in 1829, Rev. Asa Messer was laboring 
with the church as a stated supply, under a commission from the 
American Home Missionary Society for one year. He was not 
re-appointed, and it is supposed that he did not continue, and that 
he had no successor. 

Elbridge. — The town of Elbridge is a part of the old military 
town of Camillus, and was incorporated as a separate town in 1829. 
The first settlers who came into the town to reside permanently 
were, William Stevens, Nicholas Michles, Moses Carpenter, Robert 
Fulton, and Josiah Buck. The church was organized with seven 
members, by Rev. Seth WilJiston, Oct. 30th," 1800. Hezekiah 
Freeman, Moses Fulton, John Healy, and Isaac Freeman, were 
leading members of the religious society for many years. The 
church was organized as a Congregational church, and for a 
number of years was denominated the Congregational church of 
Camillus. It is still Congregational in its form of government, 
though connected with the Presbytery of Cayuga on the accom- 
modating plan. It was originally connected with the Middle As- 
sociation, and on the extinction of that body, by the formation of 
the Presbyteries of Onondaga and Cayuga, it was united to the 
Presbytery of Cayuga, which connexion it still retains. From the 
organization of the church till 1810, the church was small and 
feeble, and irregularly supplied with preaching, enjoying but little 
more than that furnished by itinerant missionaries. But in 1810 
and 1811, Rev. Benjamin Bell officiated as stated supply, and in 
connexion with his ministry a few members were added to the 
church. In the year 1817, the church enjoyed a season of revival, 
under the ministry of Rev. Jabez Chadwick. " How long his ministry 
with this church was continued is unknown to the writer. Rev. 
Stephen Porter supplied the church from January, 1824, till Feb. 
8th, 1826, on which day he was installed by a committee of the 
Presbytery as its pastor. The pastoral relation was dissolved on 
the eighth day of March, 1827. During the period of Mr. Porter's 
ministry a blessed revival of the work of the Holy Spirit was 
enjoyed, in consequence of which a goodly number was added to 
the church, so that the number of members reported for 1825 was 

22 



338 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



one hundred and twenty-six, a greater number than was reported 
afterwards for several years. On the seventh day of February, 
1828, Rev. Timothy Stow was installed pastor of this church by 
the Presbytery, and continued in the pastorate till Jan. 15th, 1833, 
when the relation was dissolved. During the first two years of 
his ministry a considerable addition was made to the church of 
members by profession ; but in the year 1831 the greatest work 
of grace was experienced, as the result of which sixty-six members 
were added to the church, on a profession of their faith in Christ. 
In consequence of this addition, the church numbered one hundred 
and fifty-nine members, a greater number than had ever before 
been reported. Rev. Medad Pomeroy succeeded Mr. Stow, and 
was installed pastor of the church on the seventh day of August, 
1833. The pastoral relation was dissolved Sept. 2d, 1840. During 
his ministry, in 1834, a considerable revival was experienced, but 
the number added to the church as the result is unknown to the 
writer. Rev. Sidney Mills was the next pastor, and was installed 
Sept. 1st, 1841, and continued till the eighteenth of April, 1843, 
when the relation was dissolved. He was succeeded by Rev. 
Lemuel W. Hamblin, who was ordained and installed pastor of the 
church, Nov. 15th, 1843. He continued in the pastorate till his 
removal by death, which took place on the twelfth day of October, 
1846. A revival of the work of the Holy Spirit was granted in 
1843, but whether it was previous to the commencement of Mr. 
Hamblin's ministry, or subsequent, is not known to the writer. As 
the result of this work of grace, a very considerable addition was 
made to the church, which numbered, on the twenty-fourth of 
November, 1845, one hundred and sixty-five members. Messrs. 
Levi Clark, Jacob Campbell, and Hiram F. Mather, are the present 
deacons of the church. The church has always supported its own 
pastor, without any aid from any missionary society. They have 
a house for worship which was erected in 1825, and removed to 
another location and enlarged in 1845. It will now seat a congre- 
gation of eight hundred persons. The Baptist Church have also a 
house of worship in the village. 

Jordan. — The village of Jordan is situated on the Erie canal, in 
the town of El bridge, and became a place of some importance, as 
the result of the construction of the canal. The church was orga- 
nized by a committee of the Presbytery, probably in the year 1829, 
and was received under the care of the Presbytery, Jan. 20th, 
1830. Rev. John Ingersoll received a commission dated August 
22d, 1829, from the American Home Missionary Society, to labor 
in this place. He continued his labors with them for one year. 
He was succeeded by Rev. William Page, who is supposed to have 
discontinued his labors with this church in the spring of 1832. 
The church is reported in 1832 and 1833 as furnished with a stated 



PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA. 



339 



supply. On the seventh day of August, 1833, Rev. Washington 
Thatcher was installed pastor of the church, and sustained this re- 
lation till Nov. 24th, 1841, when he was dismissed from his charge 
by the Presbytery. The first report of the number of members 
on the statistics of the General Assembly is in the year 1836. The 
number then reported is ninety-six, a greater number than has at any 
other time been reported. In 1846, the number reported was ninety- 
five. For several years past, Rev. Aaron Judson has ministered 
to the church in the capacity of a stated supply. What revivals, 
if any, have been enjoyed, is not known to the writer. The church 
has a commodious house of worship, and some other denomina- 
tions have houses of worship in the village. 

Marcellus First Church. — The settlement of the village of Mar- 
cell us commenced in the year 1795. A few families had come in 
and located in different parts of the original town, a year or two 
before. In the autumn of 1795, Hon. Dan Bradley and Deacon 
Samuel Rice commenced the settlement of the village. Deacon 
Rice came directly from Connecticut. Judge Bradley was origi- 
nally from Connecticut, but immediately from Whitestown. He 
was a liberally educated man, and had with honor sustained the 
office of a gospel minister. The following winter Dr. Elnathan 
Beach removed from Connecticut into the place. Public worship 
on the Sabbath, by prayer, singing, and reading a sermon, was set 
up at the commencement of the settlement, and has never been in- 
termitted. A church of the Congregational order, consisting of 
eighteen members, was organized, Oct. 13th, 1801, by Rev. Caleb 
Alexander, who was then laboring as a missionary in the region. 
The Religious Society was organized according to law, in 1802, 
and the next year a house of worship, fifty-five feet by forty-eight, 
was erected and enclosed. The house was enlarged by the ad- 
dition of twenty feet to the length, with a steeple, and completed in 
1815. 

In the infancy of the settlement, the people, to a greater or less 
degree, enjoyed the occasional labors of itinerating missionaries. 
Rev. Messrs. Williston, Bushnell, Cram, and Hays, performed im- 
portant labors in the place. Under Mr. Williston's labors a season 
of revival was enjoyed, and a number were hopefully converted. 
They likewise enjoyed for short seasons the labors of Mr. Thomas 
Robbins, Amasa Jerome, and Caleb Atwater, licentiates. Rev. Pe- 
ter Fish preached to the congregation for some time, and received 
a call for settlement,, which, however, proved abortive. Until 
1805, this congregation was associated with that of Skeneatoles, in 
the support of preaching. In the month of September, 1806, Mr. 
Levi Parsons, a licensed preacher of the gospel from Massachu- 
setts, came into the place, and was engaged to supply the pulpit 
for a season. In the event he received a call to settle with them 



340 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



as their pastor, and was ordained and installed to the pastoral of- 
fice by an ecclesiastical council, convened for the purpose, Sept, 
16th, 1807. The church at that period consisted of eighteen mem- 
bers, the same number with which it began, though not all the same 
individuals. The pastoral relation between Mr. Parsons and the 
church was dissolved, Jan. 15th, 1833, having continued more than 
twenty-five years. On the eighth day of January, 1811, the 
church became connected with the Presbytery of Cayuga. This 
was its first connexion with any ecclesiastical body. During the 
ministry of Mr. Parsons, three seasons of revival, though not very 
extensive, were enjoyed, viz. — In 1820, in 1826, and in 1831. At 
the period of his dismission, the church numbered one hundred and 
thirty-six members. 

Soon after Mr. Parsons' dismission, Rev. Levi Griswold was em- 
ployed as a stated supply, and continued with the church two 
years, after which Mr. Parsons was invited to resume his labors, 
which he did, and continued to perform the pai'ochial duties for six 
years, till May, 1841, though he was not reinstalled. Soon after the 
cessation of his labors, Mr. John Tompkins, a licensed preacher, 
was employed to preach to the congregation, received a call for 
settlement, and was ordained and installed as pastor, Feb. 22d ? 
ls42. Mr. Tompkins still continues in the pastoral office. In the 
year 1844 a measure of divine influence was experienced, resulting 
in the addition of a considerable number of members to thecommu 
nion of the church. In the report for 1836 the number of members 
is stated at one hundred and forty-eight, thirty-four having been 
added since the previous report. 

It is estimated that about two-thirds of the village and vicinity 
may be called stated attendants on public worship, about one half 
of whom attend with the Presbyterian church, and the others with 
the Methodists or Episcopalians, the Methodists being, about 'twice 
as numerous as the Episcopalians. 

Marcellus Second Church. — The location of this church is about 
four miles and a half south-east from Marcellus village. It was or- 
ganized with twenty-eight members, by Rev. Levi Parsons and 
Rev. Benjamin B. Stockton, March 4th, 1819. The members were 
dismissed from the first church of Marcellus for the purpose of a 
new organization, on account of locality. Its present number of 
members is about fifty. It has at times numbered above eighty. 
The church has never had a pastor regularly installed, and at times 
has been without the stated ministry of the gospel. When they 
have enjoyed a slated ministry, it has much of the time been in 
connexion with another church. As stated supplies they have en- 
joyed the labors of Rev. Messrs. A. Conkey, William Wilcox, Eli- 
phalet B. Coleman, Hiram Smith, Absalom K. Barr, Alfred C. La- 
throp, Robert Brown, and Levi Parsons. They have received 



PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA. 



341 



much aid from the American Home Missionary Society in the sup- 
port of their ministers. They have enjoyed some seasons of spe- 
cial revival, especially in 1831 and 1838. They have a house of 
worship, erected in 1825, which is in size about forty feet by thirty, 
and is well finished. The congregation upon the Sabbath may 
number eighty or ninety hearers. They are intermixed with other 
denominations of professing Christians, but no other house of wor- 
ship is in the immediate vicinity. 

Skeneatoles. — The town of Skeneatoles was originally a part of 
the town of Marcellus. It is situated on both sides of Skeneatoles 
lake, and includes the village at the northern end of the lake. The 
settlement of the place commenced about the year 1794 or 1795. 
At what period stated public worship commenced, is not known 
to the writer. A church consisting of sixteen members was orga- 
nized, July 20th, 1801, by Rev. Aaron Bascom, a missionary from 
the Hampshire Missionary Society, Mass. Within a short period 
after the organization of the church five additional members were 
added, making the whole number twenty-one. As this church was 
the first organized in the town of Marcellus, it was denominated 
" Marcellus First Church," and held this appellation for a consider- 
able period. At the formation of the Middle Association this church 
became connected with that body, and was transferred to the Cayuga 
Presbytery on the dissolution of the Association. It retained its 
original Congregational mode of church government till January 
10th, 1818, at which period the Presbyterian form of government 
was adopted, and ruling elders were elected. The church in its 
infancy, like other churches in the region, was visited by itinerating 
missionaries, particularly by Rev. Messrs Williston, Bushnell, Je- 
rome, Cram, and others. Rev. Thomas Robbins, then a licentiate, 
preached here for a season in connexion with Marcellus east. Rev. 
Benjamin Bell, Rev. Andrew Rawson,and Rev. Ira M. Olds, severally 
supplied here for a season. Their first pastor, Rev. Nathaniel 
Swift, was ordained and installed September 11th, 1811. His con- 
tinuance as pastor of the church was but a short period. He was 
dismissed. October 27th, 1812. At a subsequent period he was 
deposed from the ministry and excommunicated from the church. 
July 7th, 18 13, Rev. Benjamin Rice was ordained and installed pastor 
of the church, and continued to hold the pastoral office till August 
20th, 1817, at which date the pastoral relation was dissolved. Their 
next pastor was Rev. Benjamin B. Stockton, who was installed, 
March 4th, 1818. His dismission took place April 30th, 1822. Mr. 
Stockton was succeeded in the pastoral office by Rev. Alexander 
M. Cowan, whose installation occurred, December 4th, 1822. He 
retained the station till October 14th, 1828, when he was dismissed. 
Soon after Mr. Cowan's dismission, Rev. Samuel W. Brace was 
engaged as stated supply, and on the 17th day of February, 1830, 



342 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



he was installed as pastor of the church. In this relation he con- 
tinued till October 18th, 1843, when the relation was dissolved. 
On the 20th day of March ensuing, Rev. Samuel W. Bush was 
installed pastor of the church, and as yet continues to sustain that 
relation. 

Respecting revivals of religion in this congregation, the author 
has received no very definite information. The converting influ- 
ences of the Holy Spirit have been repeatedly shed down, and the 
church from time to time has been enlarged. * This was more par- 
ticularly the case during the ministry of Mr. Brace. Almost every 
year a considerable number were added to the church by profes- 
sion. The greatest number reported in any one year, was thirty- 
six. This was for the year 1833. The next year eighteen are 
reported as added by profession, and the whole number of mem- 
bers who have been connected with the church since its organiza- 
tion,^© October 18th, 1847, is 646. The number remaining at that 
date was 124 ; from which it appears that the church has of late 
greatly decreased in numbers. 

In 1807, the Society erected a house of worship on the hill a 
little east of the village, which for that day was large and elegant. 
In 1830, they erected a new and commodious one in the village. 
The congregation who attend worship in this church are more 
numerous than any other in the village, numbering, in favorable 
weather, from two hundred and fifty to three hundred persons. 
Besides the Presbyterian congregation, there are three others in 
the village of Skeneatoles, viz. an Episcopal, a Methodist, and a 
Baptist, each of which has a house of worship, and enjoys preach- 
ing regularly upon the Sabbath. 

Borodino. — This is a small village, situated on the eastern bank 
of Skeneatoles lake in the town of SpafFord. A Presbyterian 
Church, consisting of seventeen members, was organized October, 
1830. The church at one time consisted of ninety-eight members, 
but by removals and deaths is now reduced to the number of sixty- 
four. At the period of the organization of the church, Rev. A. B. 
Corning was laboring as stated supply to the congregation, and 
continued in that capacity two or three years. He was succeeded 
by Rev. B. B. Drake for one year. Rev. Lemuel Dady was his 
successor for a similar period. Rev. Asa Lyman followed for a 
season. During his continuance a house of worship was erected. 
After his departure, Rev. H. S. Redfield supplied the congregation 
in connexion with that of Scott for one year, and after him Rev. 
Absalom K. Barr also one year. Rev. Joseph S. Lord was or- 
dained and installed pastor of the church, April 21st, 1840. He 
was dismissed from his pastoral charge, October 2d, 1844. During 
his ministry a considerable revival took place, and fifty-three mem- 
bers were added to the church. Since the dismission of Mr. Lord 



PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA. 



343 



Rev. Hiram Harris has supplied the congregation a part of the 
time for one year. In the support of all these ministers they have 
been aided by the American Home Missionary Society. Rev. 
Levi Parsons, of Marcellus, is at the present time preaching as a 
stated supply to this congregation. 

Sennett.— The town of Sennett was formerly the southern part 
of the original military township of Brutus. The settlement of the 
place in the vicinity of the house of worship or village of Sennett, 
commenced in 1796. The first families were those of Daniel 

Shirts, Atwell, Silas Goodrich, Thomas Morley, Ebenezer 

Healy, Rufus Sheldon, Daniel Sennett, Hezekiah Freeman, and 
Moses Treat. Public worship on the Sabbath was set up in the 
year 1800. The few professors of religion of the Congregational 
Order were connected with the church of Aurelius, but were at 
too great a distance to attend worship regularly with that church. 
In the year 1805, a religious society, with trustees, was organized 
according to the law of the State, and on the 8th day of January, 
1806, a church consisting of sixteen members was organized by 
Rev. David Higgins, of Aurelius. The church at its organization 
was composed of those who had been members of the church of 
Aurelius in part, and partly of others, and was denominated the 
Congregational Church of Brutus. By this name it is known on 
the records of the Presbytery, down to a late period. The church 
soon after its organization became connected with the Middle 
Association, and on the dissolution of that body, was assigned to 
the Presbytery of Cayuga, with which it has continued in connexion 
to the present time. It now numbers about one hundred members. 
In the year 1825 nearly one half of the members were dismissed 
to form the church of Weedsport. 

In the month of April, 1806, Mr. Francis Pomeroy, then a 
licensed preacher of the gospel, was ordained and installed pas- 
tor of the church, whether by the Association or by a special 
ecclesiastical council, is not known to the writer. Mr. Pomeroy's 
labors were continued to Dec. 28th, 1813, when the pastoral rela- 
tion was dissolved by the act of the Presbytery. Rev. Jephthah 
Pool was the next pastor. He was installed, Sept. 10th, 1817, and 
the pastoral relation was dissolved on the eleventh day of Feb., 
1823. Under his labors a great revival was enjoyed in the year 
1821. Rev. Charles Yale officiated as stated supply two years 
from 1824 to 1826 ; and Rev. Asa K. Buel from 1826 to 1827. 
Rev. Abner Morse succeeded Mr. Buel as a stated supply for one 
year. In 1830, Rev. Henry Boynton took the place of stated 
supply to the church, and continued his labors for four years. 
During his ministry in 1833 a revival of the work of God's Spirit 
was enjoyed. After the cessation of Mr. Boynton's labors, Rev. 
Samuel Marsh succeeded and ministered to the church about three 



344 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



years. He was succeeded by Rev. D. C. Lansing, D.D., whose 
labors were continued about a year, during which period a work 
of God's grace was carried on in the hearts of the people. Rev. 
Levi Griswold succeeded Dr. Lansing, and continued from 1838 to 

1842. A revival occurred under his ministry in 1841. Nov. 14th. 

1843, Mr. Charles Anderson, licentiate, who had been for some 
time ministering to the church, was ordained and installed as pas- 
tor, and still continues in that relation. With the commencement 
of his ministry a precious work of the Lord commenced, and souls 
were brought home to God. This church has been aided by the 
American Home Missionary Society, in the support of Rev. Abner 
Morse, Rev. Jephthah Pool, and Rev. Henry Boynton. They 
have a house of worship, which was erected in 1816, and which is 
still in use, though not as good as desirable. It is forty-eight feet 
in length, and forty-four in breadth. It is estimated that not more 
than one sixth of the population attend worship with this church. 
The other denominations intermixed are the Baptists, the Metho- 
dists, and those calling themselves Christians. The Baptists are the 
most numerous denomination ; the Presbyterians next in number, 
and the Methodists next. 

Auburn First Presbyterian Church. — The village and town of 
Auburn are a part of the territory which constituted the original 
town of Aurelius. The first settler on the site of the present city 
of Auburn, was Col. John L. Hardenburgh, who came in the year 
1793. He was an officer of the Revolution, and settled on the 
land assigned him as compensation for revolutionary services. He 
was from the county of Ulster. A church of the Congregational 
order was organized at an early period in the town of Aurelius, 
embracing the professors of religion of that order throughout the 
town. Rev. David Higgins from Connecticut, who had visited the 
place as an itinerant missionary in the autumn of 1801, and again 
in 1802, received a call to take the pastoral charge of the churchy 
in compliance with which he removed his family to the vicinity of 
Auburn, and was, by an ecclesiastical council, installed pastor of 
the church of Aurelius, Oct. 6th, 1802. The congregation was 
extended over so large a territory, and having no appropriate house 
of worship, the meetings upon the Sabbath for public worship 
were held alternately at Auburn, Aurelius, Cayuga village, and 
Grover's Settlement. On the eighth of January. 1811, Mr. Hig- 
gins was dismissed from his pastoral relation to this church, and 
was engaged as a stated supply in the village of Auburn, which 
was then beginning to rise to some measure of importance. On 
the Lord's day, July 14th, 1811, the church of Auburn was organ- 
ized by Mr. Higgins, and consisted of nine members. It was 
organized as a Congregational Church, but on the fifth day of 
August, 1814, the church by a unanimous vote adopted the Presby- 



PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA. 



345 



terian Confession of Faith and Form of Government, which have 
ever since been retained. The church, within a few days after its 
organization, became connected with the Presbytery of Cayuga. 
Mr. Higgins continued to officiate as stated supply about one year 
and nine months. Rev. Hezekiah N. Woodruff was his successor, 
and was installed as pastor of the church, June 22d, 1813. In 
August, 1816, the pastoral relation of Mr. Woodruff to the church 
was dissolved, and in November of the same year the church gave 
a unanimous call to Rev. Dirck C. Lansing to be their pastor which 
call was accepted, and on the twentieth day of April, 1817, he was 
installed as pastor of the church. His relation was dissolved June 
16th, 1829, he having accepted a call from the Second Presb3^terian 
Church of Utica. The church remained without a pastor till July, 
1830, when Rev. Josiah Hopkins was unanimously elected, and on 
the twenty-eighth of September following, was installed pastor of 
the church. The pastoral relation between him and the church 
was dissolved in April, 1846. For some time previous to this event 
the health of Dr. Hopkins had been such that he had been wholly 
unable to preach, and the pulpit was supplied by Dr. Lansing, the 
former pastor. On the twenty-ninth of July, 1846, Mr. Henry A. 
Nelson, a licentiate, was ordained and installed pastor of the church, 
and still sustains that relation. 

This church has been distinguished for the number and extent of 
the revivals which have been enjoyed. During the ministry of Dr. 
Lansing and Dr. Hopkins, embracing a period of twenty-nine 
years, not less than twelve or fourteen seasons of general religious 
attention were experienced. Of the character and results of these 
some notice has been taken in another part of this work. The 
church in this period received more than sixteen hundred members, 
making an average yearly addition of about sixty persons. 

Three colonies have gone out from this church, and have formed 
other churches, viz. the Second Presbyterian Church of Auburn, the 
church of Fleming, and the present church of Aurelius. The pre- 
sent number of members in the church is about four hundred and 
twenty. The average number of persons attending worship on the 
Sabbath is not far from five hundred. The church has an appro- 
priate house of worship, the erection of which was commenced in 
1816, and completed the following spring. It has since been en- 
larged by the addition of several feet to its length, and is now se- 
venty-two feet in length, by fifty-five in breadth. It is capable of 
comfortably seating about one thousand persons. 

z 

Auburn Second Presbyterian Church. — This church was orga- 
nized by an act of the Presbytery of Cayuga, and received under 
its care, Nov. 10th, 1830. The number who united in the first or- 
ganization, by letter from the First Presbyterian Church and other 
churches, was sixty-six. Among the reasons assigned for the for- 



346 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



mation of a second Presbyterian Society, are, " that it would, under 
present circumstances, conduce to the advancement of the Presby- 
terian interests, and to the promotion of real and genuine religion ; 
and that in consequence of dissatisfaction that had arisen among 
many on account of certain measures adopted to promote revivals 
of religion, a new and separate organization would be desirable." 
The members expressed the hope "that all occasion of collision and 
crimination would thus be removed, and that the only strife should 
be which shall best exemplify the religion we profess, and most 
advance the kingdom of our Redeemer, and the salvation of our 
fellow-men." 

On the same day in which the church was organized, Mr. Daniel 
C. Axtell, a graduate of Princeton College, and of the Auburn The- 
ological Seminary, was ordained and installed as pastor of the 
church. In this station he continued till Jan. 19th, 1836, when the 
pastoral relation was dissolved. On the 29th of August, of the 
same year, Rev. Leonard E. Lathrop, then pastor of the Congre- 
gational church of Salisbury (Conn.), received a call to become the 
pastor of the church, which was accepted, and in December follow- 
ing he was installed pastor of this church, in which relation he has 
continued to the present time. This church has participated in the 
revivals which have been experienced in the place since its organi- 
zation. The number of persons received into this church since its 
organization to the beginning of the year 1847, is five hundred and 
ten. Owing to a changing and unstable population, as is extensively 
the case throughout this whole region, the number of the church 
and congregation has been variable. The church at the period of 
its last report numbered two hundred and twenty-six members. 
Pecuniary embarrassments which have befallen the community 
since 1837, have considerably affected this congregation ; yet not- 
withstanding these circumstances, they have raised annually about 
$2000 during that time, including their own current expenses, and 
what has been raised for different objects of benevolence. 

They have a spacious and beautiful house of worship, with a 
fine organ. A correspondent says, " This church, according to the 
original design, has aimed to exert a conservative influence in re- 
gard to the ultraisms of the day, and has been firm and tenacious 
in its adherence to order and sound doctrine. Its ministry has 
been decidedly evangelical, and one of the prominent ends attain- 
ed by the existence of this church has been, the influence which it 
has exerted in general, in restoring and preserving habits of reli- 
gious order and decorum in the community." 
u^The population of the city of Auburn is more than six thousand 
souls, including about six hundred convicts in the State Prison. 
For these convicts stated preaching of the Gospel upon the Sab- 
bath, with Sabbath schools and some other means of religious in- 
struction, is provided. The churches, besides the two Presbyte- 



PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA. 



347 



rian churches, are, a Baptist, a Methodist, and an Episcopal church. 
The largest congregation is the First Presbyterian ; the others are 
respectable in numbers and ability. There is also a Universalist 
church and a Roman Catholic. 

P? Cayuga Village. — The village of Cayuga is situated in the town 
of Aurelius at the east end of the Cayuga Bridge. The place be- 
gan to be settled at an early date. For a number of years the few 
professors of religion of the Presbyterian order in the village and 
its vicinity, were connected with the original church of Aurelius. 
Some time, probably in the year 1818, or the beginning of the 
next year, the privilege of passing and repassing, free of toll, the 
Cayuga Bridge, in going to and returning from public worship, was 
obtained. This laid the foundation for the organization of a church, 
composed of members from both sides of the lake. Such a church 
was formed on the Presbyterian platform, and became attached to 
the Presbytery of Geneva, June 29th, 1819. Of what number of 
members the church at its organization was composed, the writer 
is not informed. It was small, and the church were unable by 
themselves to support a pastor. For this purpose the church unit- 
ed with the church of Seneca Falls, in settling a pastor, and, on 
the same day in which the church was taken under the care of the 
Presbytery of Geneva, Rev. William Bacon was installed pastor of 
the united churches. The pastoral relation was dissolved, Feb. 
6th, 1821 ; but during the period of his ministry, the Presbytery, 
under date of February, 1820, speak of a revival in the congrega- 
tion, as having commenced, and being in a state of progress, seven 
members having been added to the church. In March, 1821, the 
church was dismissed from its connexion with the Presbytery of 
Geneva, and in July of the same year was received under the care 
of the Presbytery of Cayuga. The church is now united with the 
church of Aurelius in the settlement of a pastor, and on the eighth 
day of August, 1821, Mr. Medad Pomeroy, a licentiate, was or- 
dained and installed pastor of the united churches. He was dismiss- 
ed from his pastoral relation to the church of Aurelius, Jan. 16, 18271 
but is reported as pastor of the church of Cayuga till 1833. Du- 
ring his ministry several revivals of religion appear to have been 
experienced. In 1827, the church is reported as consisting of 
seventy-seven members, thirty-one having been added the previous 
year. In the report of 1829, nineteen members are reported as 
having been added, by profession, the preceding year ; in 1832, 
seventy-nine. These additions indicate revivals as having preced- 
ed. Rev. Henry Snyder was installed pastor of the church, April 
30th, 1834, and dismissed, April 15th, 1835. Rev. Erastus H. 
Adams ministered as stated supply for a season ; how long is not 
known to the writer. In 1836, the number of members reported 
is two hundred and forty-five, which is seventy-six more than were 



348 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



reported in 1834, indicating that a shower of spiritual blessings had 
descended in the interval. Oct. 30th, 1838, Mr. Thomas R. Towns- 
end, a licentiate, was ordained and installed pastor of the church, 
and was dismissed, July 1st, 1840. In that year twenty members 
are reported as having been added to the church the preceding 
year, yet the whole number had been lessened by one hundred and 
nine, in the space of three years. In the year 1843, Rev. Medad 
Pomeroy is reported as stated supply to the church. In this capa- 
city he is laboring at the present time. The number of members 
last reported is one hundred and fifty-nine. This was in 1843. 
This church has an appropriate house of worship, and has always, 
without aid from a Missionary Society, supported its own minis- 
ters. 

Aurelius. — The present church of Aurelius is of recent forma- 
tion. It is to be considered as an emanation from the church of 
Auburn, but the precise period of its organization is not known to 
the writer, nor the number of members who united in its organiza- 
tion. It w r as received under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga,, 
Jan. 18th, 1842. In 1843, it is reported as furnished with a stated 
supply. Again, in 1846, it is reported as consisting of ninety-eight 
members, and having a stated supply. 

Springport. — The church which is now denominated the church 
of Springport is the continuation of the original church of Aurelius, 
i which, in consequence of repeated subdivisions, has entirely changed 
its location and assumed a different name. It is known in the 
statistical tables of the minutes of the General Assembly as the 
church of Aurelius till 1834, and, from that period to the present 
time, as the church of Springport. Its present location is in the 
town of Springport, which was originally included in the town of 
Aurelius. At what time the church was first organized is not cer- 
tainly known to the writer. It was, probably, as early as 1798 or 
1799. The author has found no statement of the number of its 
members till 1831, when it contained sixty-seven members. The 
church was originally a Congregational church. It was one of the 
churches which united in forming the Middle Association, and on 
the dissolution of that body became an integral part of the Presby- 
tery of Cayuga. It has already been stated, in the history of the 
first church of Auburn, that Rev. David Higgins was installed 
pastor of this church, Oct. 6th, 1802, and that the relation was dis- 
solved Jan. 8th, 1811. During his ministry the church extended 
over the whole town of Aurelius, and the meetings for public wor- 
ship on the Sabbath were held alternately in four different parts of 
the town. Mr. Higgins' installation was the first instance of such 
an occurrence on the Military Tract. By the division of the 
church in the organizatipn of the church of Auburn, it was greatly 



PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA. 



349 



weakened, and its history is not known to the writer down to the 
year 1821. On the eighth day of August of that year, Rev. Medad 
Pomeroy was ordained and installed pastor of this church in con- 
nexion with the church of Cayuga village. His relation to the 
church of Aurelius was dissolved, Jan. 16th, 1827. The church 
for that year is reported, on the minutes of the General Assembly, 
as vacant. In subsequent years, down to 1843, with the exception 
of 1837, it is reported as statedly supplied, but by whom for most 
of the time does not appear. From May 1st, 1828, Rev. Lewis 
D. Howell was stated supply for one year, under the patronage ot 
the American Home Missionary Society. In 1836, Rev. James H. 
Rice appears to have been its stated supply. Rev. Samuel W. 
Raymond, under the patronage of the A. H. M. Society, supplied 
one year from March 1st, 1840.. On the twenty-third day of Janu- 
ary, 1844, Mr. Elisha Barber, a licentiate, was ordained and in- 
stalled pastor of the church. In 1846, the church numbered ninety- 
one members, thirteen having been received the preceding year on 
profession. The church has an appropriate house of worship 
located in the village of Union Springs, in the town of Springport^ 
The church is sometimes called the church of Union Springs. 

Fleming. — This church was formed of members from the church 
of Auburn, probably in 1823, as it was received under the care of 
the Presbytery, July first of that year. Of how many members it 
was composed the writer is not informed ; the number, however, 
was small. The church, as a distinct church, continued but about 
two years, when it was amalgamated with others, and became the 
second church of Scipio. 

Scipio Second Presbyterian Church. — This church was organ- 
ized in the year 1825, by Rev. M. L. R. Perrine, D.D., one of 
the professors of the Auburn Theological Seminary. It was com- 
posed of the members of the church of Fleming, with a few 
individuals from the first church of Scipio, in the whole amounting 
to thirty-five or forty members. Perhaps instead of calling it a 
new organization, it may more properly be considered as a re- 
modelling of the church of Fleming, by adding to its number, and 
changing its name and locality. It would seem that this was the 
position in which it was viewed by the Presbytery. In their re- 
ports to the General Assembly, they report the church of Fleming 
till 1826, and after that period, Scipio second church. On no one 
report are both names to be found. No mention on their records 
is made of the reception of Scipio second church, from which it is 
evident that they considered it as the church of Fleming with a 
new name. Messrs. Elisha Cowles and Herman Norton, students 
of the Theological Seminary, and, as the writer supposes, licensed 
preachers, supplied this church with preaching in its infancy : Mr. 



350 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Cowles for six months, Mr. Norton nearly two years. Under the 
labors of those men, an extensive revival was enjoyed, and, soon 
after the organization of the church, from seventy to eighty mem- 
bers were added to it by profession. Mr. George R. Rudd was 
ordained and installed pastor of the church, Feb. 21st, 1827, and 
ministered to them till June 16th, 1829, when the pastoral relation 
was dissolved. The third day of February following, Rev. John 
Clark was installed pastor of the church, and received his dismis- 
sion June 20th, 1832. The church, it is said, flourished under the 
labors of these two pastors. In the report of 1831, eleven are 
reported to have been added by profession, and the next year, 
twenty-seven. Rev. Charles E. Avery was installed pastor of the 
church, March 6th, 1833, and continued to occupy the post till 
Nov. 15th, 1842. At the commencement of his labors a blessed 
outpouring of the Holy Spirit was vouchsafed, and the work of 
grace continued about fifteen months. As the result, about fifty 
united with the church. Rev. Joseph D. Barker commenced preach- 
ing as a stated supply to this congregation in the autumn of 1844, 
and his labors are still continued. The church in 1834 reported 
one hundred and eighty-three members ; it now numbers about 
one hundred. It has always supported its own minister without 
missionary aid. It has a very good house of worship, fifty-five 
feet in length by thirty-five in width, which was erected in 1825. 
Not more than one half of the population in the immediate vicinity 
are in the habit of attending worship with this church.. About an 
equal portion of Baptists, Methodists, and Quakers, also Univer- 
salists, are intermixed with the congregation. 

Scipio First Presbyterian Church. — The town of Scipio included 
originally the present towns of Scipio, Venice, and Ledyard. 
The part which is now Scipio began to be settled about the year 
1795 or '96. The first inhabitants were generally emigrants from 
the Eastern States, with some families of Germans from Rennsyl- 
vania. Public worship in a stated manner was established by the 
people from New England, in 1799. The German population had, 
at an early period, occasional preaching in the German language, 
by ministers of their own order from Pennsylvania, who had to 
travel from sixty to a hundred miles once or twice a year for this 
purpose. The other portion of the community enjoyed the occa- 
sional labors of missionaries from the Eastern States, and from the 
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. In particular, the 
labors of Rev. Seth Williston were blessed to the conversion of 
some souls, and a church was gathered and organized by him in 
1800. This church was constituted according to the Congrega- 
tional platform, and embraced the members of that denomination 
throughout the town. Of how many members it consisted the 
writer is not informed. It became connected with the Middle As- 



PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA. 



351 



sociation, as the author believes, at the period of the organization 
of that body, and on the dissolution of the body became united to 
the Cayuga Presbytery. In the early years of its existence this 
church was considered as one of the most able and promising 
churches in Western New York. As early as 1804 or ? 05, Rev. 
Hezekiah N. Woodruff was installed pastor of this church, the 
author believes by an ecclesiastical council. The incidents of his 
ministry are unknown to the author. He was dismissed June 22d, 
1813. Subsequent to this event a second church was organized, 
which was received under the care of the Presbytery, Feb. 20th, 
1816. This church, it is supposed, was composed mostly of mem- 
bers detached from the first church. In the year 1818, another 
part of the church was detached to form the church of Aurora. 
These detachments must have greatly weakened the original 
church. In addition to these circumstances, an Associate Reform- 
ed Church existed, the members of which were intermixed in 
location with the members of the two churches of Scipio. Over 
this church Rev. William Johnson was pastor. This church with 
its pastor was received on their request by the Presbytery of 
Cayuga, July 2d, 1822. This circumstance seems to have paved 
the way for anew arrangement, and on the thirtieth of July, 1823, 
it was announced to the Presbytery that the three churches of 
Scipio were by agreement consolidated into one church, under the 
pastoral care of Mr. Johnson. It would seem, however, that the 
whole united formed but a comparatively feeble church, for in 
1831, the church is reported as consisting of only thirty-three 
members. This church was denominated the First Presbyterian 
Church of Scipio. The church supported Mr. Johnson as pastoi 
till June 16th, 1829, at which period the pastoral relation was dis- 
solved. They have never since had a settled pastor. From 1831 
to 1834, inclusive, they are reported as having a stated supply, and 
in 1831, the church is reported as consisting of eighty-one mem- 
bers, having received the preceding year forty-eight by profession, 
a circumstance indicating that they had experienced a gracious 
visitation of the Holy Spirit. Rev. Seth Smalley labored with 
them two years, under the patronage of the American Home 
Missionary Society. In years subsequent to 1S34, this church is 
reported as vacant, the number of members not reported, till on 
the list for 1846 the name of the church is not found. What has 
become of it is unknown to the writer. 

Aurora. — The village of Aurora is situated on the east bank of 
the Cayuga lake, in the town of Ledyard, which was formerly a 
part of Scipio. Its settlement is of the same date with that of 
Scipio. The Presbyterians in this" place formerly were connected 
with the church of Scipio. Rev. Mr. Woodruff, while pastor of 
the church of Scipio, resided in the village of Aurora, and public 



352 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



worship was held alternately at the village and on the Ridge. In 
the year 1818, the church of Scipio was divided, and the church of 
Aurora was organized as a separate church, which was received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, September 22d, 
1818, and the next day Mr. James G. Oglevie, a licensed preacher, 
was ordained and installed pastor of the church. His continuance 
was only for a short period. He was dismissed, February 17th, 
1820. Of what number of members the church was composed at 
its organization is not known to the writer. In the year 1825, the 
number is reported as sixty-seven. From the time of the dismission 
of Mr. Oglevie till 1829, the church is reported as vacant, and the 
number of members reduced to fifty-four. In 1829 and 1830, this 
church is reported as having a stated supply. On one of those years 
it would seem that Rev. Erastus S. Nichols was officiating as sup- 
ply. August 30th, 1831, Mr. Henry R. Hoisington was ordained 
and installed pastor of the church. It appears that at the com- 
mencement of his ministry a revival of religion was enjoyed. Thirty 
members are reported as added by profession, in the report for 
1832, and sixteen the next year. Mr. Hoisington was dismissed, 
March 6th, 1833, for the purpose of going as a foreign missionary 
to Ceylon. On the 23d day of January ensuing, Rev. Cbauncey 
Cook was installed pastor of the church, and continued in that 
station till January 13th, 1837, when the pastoral relation was dis- 
solved. During Mr. Cook's ministry it appears that the converting 
influences of the Holy Spirit were enjoyed in a measure, increas- 
ing the number of its members to eighty-three — a larger number 
than had ever before been reported. On the 18th of July follow- 
ing the dismission of Mr. Cook, Mr. James Richards, jun., a licen - 
tiate, was ordained and installed pastor of the church. He was 
dismissed April 20th, 1841, having received a call from the congre- 
gation of Pennyan. Rev. Charles N. Mattoon succeeded Mr. 
Richards as a stated supply, and is yet continued. Since Mr. 
Mattoon commenced his labors the church has been much enlarged 
Nearly 100 members are reported as having been added. The 
whole number of members reported in 1846, was 156. This church 
has a house of worship which is large and commodious. The 
Episcopalians and Methodists ha ve each a house of worship in the 
village. 

Moravia. — The town of Moravia, in which the village of Moravia 
is situated, was formerly part of the town of Sempronius. The 
Presbyterian Church of Moravia was originally the church of Sem- 
pronius, and by that name is known in the statistical tables of the 
minutes of the General Assembly till 1846. It is supposed that it. 
included the members of this denomination throughout the original 
town of Sempronius. At what time the church was organized is 
not known to the writer. It was at an early period. It was origi- 



PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA. 



353 



nally a Congregational Church, and was connected with the Middle 
Association. On the division of that body it fell under the care of 
the Cayuga Presbytery, where it still remains. Rev. Royal 
Phelps was its first pastor, and the only one who has been 
regularly installed by ecclesiastical sanction. At what period he 
was installed in that office, is not known to the writer. He was 
pastor previous to the dissolution of the Association, and the pas- 
toral relation was dissolved by the Presbytery, February 20th, 1816. 
In 1825, the church is reported as consisting of eighty-three mem- 
bers, and as vacant. This is the first report of the number of mem- 
bers that is found. Whether the church had been favored with 
stated preaching any part of the time, during the interval between 
the dismission of Mr. Phelps and the year 1826, is not known to the 
author. In the year last mentioned, Rev. George Taylor was 
engaged as a stated supply ; and, though he was never installed, 
his ministry with the church was continued to the period of his 
death, which took place June 30th, 1842. In the support of Mr. 
Taylor the church was aided by the United Domestic Missionary 
Society, and on the dissolution of that Society it was taken under 
the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, and aided 
in the support of Mr. Taylor for five years. In the report of the 
church for 1842, one hundred and four members are reported, thirty- 
having been added the preceding year. This circumstance indi- 
cates that an outpouring of the Spirit had been experienced. What 
privileges, as it respects the preaching of the gospel, and the admi- 
nistration of its sacraments, have been enjoyed since the decease 
of Mr. Taylor, is not known to the writer. In 1842, the church is 
reported as consisting of ninety-eight members, and enjoying the 
ministry of a stated supply. They have a house of worship in the 
village of Moravia. The Episcopalians also have a house of wor- 
ship in the village. 

Summer Hill. — This town is the north-eastern quarter of what 
was formerly the town of Locke. Its settlement was commenced 
about the year 1790, by emigrants from New England, and the 
eastern part of New York. The professors of religion of the Pres- 
byterian Order were connected with the church in Groton for 
several years, and as early as 1817, the meetings were held half of 
the time at Summer Hill. A separate church, composed of ten 
members, four males and six females, taken from the church of 
Groton, was organized, February 21, 1827, by a committee of the 
Presbytery of Cayuga, consisting of Rev. Seth Smith, Rev. Abner 
Benedict, Rev. George Taylor, and Messrs. John Stoyell and Dan 
Bradley. Previous to the first communion, fifteen others were re- 
ceived as members, of whom eleven were from the church of Locke. 
The church was received under the care of the Presbytery, June 
19th, 1827. Rev. Charles Johnston commenced laboring as a 

23 



354 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



stated supply to this church a short time after its organization, and 
continued something more than four years ; and, after an intermission 
of five years, he was their stated supply three years longer. Rev. Wm. 
Williams supplied half the time for one year,fromthe autumn of 1831. 
He was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Scott for two years, and he by 
Rev. Wm. Goodale for about the same period. Rev. W. W. Col- 
lins was stated supply two years and a half, from the autumn of 
1842, and was succeeded by Rev. S. P. M. Hastings, who was 
installed pastor of the church in June, 1846. The church at its 
organization, and for a number of years afterwards, was denominated 
the East Congregational Church of Locke. In 1832, it numbered 
seventy-one members, and in 1847, one hundred and thirteen. The 
second year after the church was organized there was a precious 
revival of religion under the ministry of Mr. Johnstone. As the 
result of this nearly thirty, more than half of whom were 
heads of families, were added to the church, giving it sub- 
stantial aid and strength. Under the ministry of Mr. Scott there 
was another general revival, which resulted in the addition to the 
church of more than twenty members. Other seasons of interest 
have been enjoyed, but not to amount to a general revival. The 
church has had difficulties to struggle with, but has been preserved 
from ultraism, and is now in a healthful state. At different times 
it has been aided by the American Home Missionary Society to 
the amount in the whole of about $500. 

Their first house of worship w r as erected in 1826, by great ex- 
ertions on the part of the congregation, and involving them in a 
considerable debt, a part of which remained uncancelled, when in 
January, 1840, the church was consumed by fire. But the church 
looking to God for aid, immediately commenced rebuilding their 
beloved sanctuary, and erected a house sixty feet in length by forty 
in breadth, on the former foundation, and by the blessing of the 
Almighty, and the liberal aid of friends, it was completed and dedi- 
cated within the year. There is a small Baptist Church and also a 
small Methodist Society in the town, but the attendance and 
strength of the Congregational Church is equal to that of both the 
others. About one sixth of the population of the place are regular 
attendants on the church. 

Milan. — The village of Milan is situated in the town of Locke. 
This town originally comprehended all the territory of the present 
towns of Locke, Summer Hill, and Groton. The settlement of the 
town commenced about the year 1795, by emigrants mostly from 
the New England States. A Congregational Church was organized 
in the west part of the town by Rev. Seth Williston in 1799. This 
church was small. The author of this w r ork, then a licensed 
preacher of the gospel, visited it in the autumn of 1808, and preached 
one sermon. It then consisted of about twelve or thirteen members. 



PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA. 



355 



the most of whom belonged to two families of the names of Bennett 
and Brown. This church continued for a time in a feeble state, but 
in consequence of the organization of other churches in the town in 
more favorable locations, it ere long became extinct. The present 
church of Milan, originally denominated the First Congregational 
Church of Locke, and sometimes the West Church of Locke, was 
received under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, October 15th, 
1816. The author supposes that it had then recently been orga- 
nized. The number of members is not known. September 27th, 
1819, Rev. Isaac Eddy was installed as pastor of the church, and 
continued in that station till April 19th, 1825, when the connexion 
was dissolved. At this period the church consisted of eighty-six 
members. The next year it is reported as furnished with a stated 
supply, and the two succeeding years as vacant. From 1829 to 
1833 inclusive, it is reported as statedly supplied. In 1829, Rev. 
Cyrus Hudson, under the patronage of the American Home Mis- 
sionary Society, ministered to this church in connexion with that of 
West Groton. He reported that a revival had been enjoyed in 
Milan, and that more than forty hopeful conversions had taken 
place with twenty-four additions to the church. Mr. Hudson's 
labors were continued into the next year. In 1831, Rev. George 
Taylor is reported as supplying this church in connexion with that 
of Sempronius. The next year, Rev. William Williams is reported 
as stated supply for this church, and that of Summer Hill. In 1833, 
Rev. Seth Smalley is reported as the stated supply. From that 
period the church is uniformly reported as vacant — an indication 
that it is not in a very prosperous condition. Its present number 
of members is not known to the writer. This church has an appro- 
priate house of worship. 

Genoa First Church.— -The town of Genoa was formerly deno- 
minated Milton, and by that name included the present towns of 
Genoa and Lansing. The name of the town was changed from 
Milton to Genoa in 1808. The little village where the house of 
worship stands, is called Northville. John Clark and Ebenezer 
Hoskins are supposed to have been the first settlers in the town of 
Milton, and to have come in 1791. About the same time, or very 
soon afterwards, Perez, Jonathan, and Gilbert Brownell came into 
that part of the old town of Scipio, which is within the precincts of the 
Genoa congregation. In the spring of 1793, Perez and Gilbert 
removed into the present town of Genoa. Jabez and Heman 
Bradley came into the same neighborhood in Scipio in the spring 
of 1793, and removed into Milton in February, 1794. William 
Bradley came in the following May. Nathaniel Walker, John 
King, Asa Jackson, and Thomas Stoddard, came from the valley of 
Wyoming to Springport near the Cayuga lake, in the spring of 



356 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



1719, and removed their families in 1790. The two first of these 
came to Genoa in February, 1793. Benjamin Close, John Moe, and 
Jonathan Mead, came in from Connecticut in 1793. In the spring 
of that year, there were twelve families in the town, and the next 
spring there were thirty-four families. Benjamin Close, who was 
afterwards a deacon in the church, commenced public worship in 
his own house immediately after bringing in his family, in the 
autumn of 1793. The church was organized August 13th, 1798, 
consisting of sixteen members, ten males and six females. The 
ministers present, and assisting on the occasion, were, Rev. Messrs. 
Reuben Parmele, Ezra Woodworth, and Jacob Cram. The mem- 
bers had all been connected with churches in the places from which 
they had emigrated. Eight of them were from Connecticut. The 
church was denominated the First Congregational Church in the 
town of Milton. Its present number of members (1845) is 145. 
In the year 1804, the church united with the Middle Association, 
and on the division of that body fell to the Presbytery of Cayuga, 
with which they have ever since remained. In 1820, they adopted 
the Presbyterian mode of government, and ruling-elders were 
elected and duly set apart to office. In 1831, the church expressed 
a desire to return to their former mode of government, but made no 
objections to any of the individuals composing the session. All the 
members of the session tendered their resignations, which were 
accepted. Since that period the internal affairs of the church have 
been conducted by the brethren, the church still retaining its depen- 
dence on the Presbytery. 

Previous to the organization of the church, and during its infan- 
cy, some preaching by missionaries and others was enjoyed. Most 
of the missionaries who came into the region, visited the congrega- 
tion, and tarried a short time. Rev. Ezra Woodworth came in 
June, 1798, and. preached one third of the time for five or six 
months. Rev. Mr. Scott supplied some Sabbaths, and received a 
call to settle, in February, 1799, but the settlement did not take 
place. Rev. Dr. Seth Williston also received a call for settlement, 
in March, 1800, but declined it. Rev. Jabez Chadwick commenced 
preaching to the congregation, it is believed, in 1803, and continued 
about two years. Rev. William Clark was ordained and in- 
stalled pastor of the church, June 18th, 1806, and the pastoral re- 
lation was dissolved Feb. 24th, 1808. Subsequently to this, Rev. 
Samuel Fuller preached to the congregation for a season, and re- 
ceived a call for settlement, which he ultimately declined. Rev. 
Seth Smith was settled Jan. 24th, 1810, and still remains the pas- 
tor of the church, having sustained that relation for a longer period 
than any other minister in Western New York has had connexion 
with a single church. About the year 1805, in consequence of a differ- 
ence of opinion respecting a site for a house of worship, a number 



PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA. 



357 



of individuals united in building a house for meeting in what is now 
the town of Lansing, and a portion of the church received letters 
of dismission, to be organized into a distinct church in that place. 

This church has been favored with repeated seasons of refresh- 
ino- from the presence of the Lord, adding to its numbers and 
©•races. Of these some notice has been already taken. Such a 
season was enjoyed in the fall of 1799, and the winter following. 
Bv means of this revival about twenty members were added to the 
church. Another revival was experienced in the year 1817, com- 
mencing in the summer, and extending into the fall and part of the 
winter. It was confined to one portion of the congregation. 
Thirty or more were added to the church as the result. In 1820. 
some measure of divine influence was enjoyed, and some were ad- 
ded to the church. God was pleased again to visit the church in 
much mercy in 1826. This visitation was prolonged nearly a 
year, and between forty and fifty were added to the church as its 
fruits. The year 1831 was also distinguished as a year of the right 
hand of the Most High. All classes and descriptions of persons 
seemed to be affected, and more than fifty were added to the 
church. Again, in the summer of 1832, there was another season 
of revival, as the result of which from twenty-five to thirty united 
with the church ; and another season of refreshing in the winter 
of 1842-3, when fifteen or more were added to the church. 

This church has always supported its own pastor without any 
foreign aid, and has ever been distinguished for its correct order, 
regular discipline, and adherence to sound doctrine. In 1802 the 
congregation erected a log meeting-house in which they continued 
to worship till the summer of 1805, when they had completed a 
new frame building, about sixty feet by forty-six in dimensions. It 
was not, however, a very commodious building, and has lately been 
taken down, and a new, neat, and commodious building has been 
erected, which was dedicated to the service of Almighty God, 
July 8th, 1847. As to the proportion of the community who at- 
tend worship with this church, if the boundaries of the congrega- 
tion are considered as extended so as to embrace all who worship 
with them, but a small proportion of the inhabitants can be said to 
worship with the church. Some few families belong to the Society 
of Friends ; some are Baptists ; many are Methodists ; and very 
many habitually neglect to worship with any church. 

Genoa Second Church, or Genoa East. — This church was re- 
ceived under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, Aug. 20th, 1817. 
The author supposes that it was at that period of recent formation, 
and that it was organized by members taken from one or two 
neighboring churches. The original number of members is not 
known. Feb. 6th, 1822, Mr. Urbane Palmer, a licensed preacher 
of the gospel, was ordained and installed over the church. His 



358 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



dismission took place July 6th, 1824. The next year the church 
is reported as vacant, and consisting of forty-six members. Feb. 
14th, 1826, Mr. John Smith was ordained and installed as pastor of 
the church ; but his continuance was for a short period. He was 
dismissed on the fifth of October of the same year. In 1828, the 
church is reported as enjoying the labors of a stated supply. It 
then numbered one hundred and three members, having received 
on profession, the previous year, fifty-six. July 8th, 1829, Mr. 
Nathaniel E. Johnson was ordained and installed pastor of the 
church, and continued in that relation somewhat more than two 
years. He was dismissed Oct. 4th, 1831. The next year the 
church is reported as furnished with a stated supply, and as having 
received thirty-three members by profession, making the whole 
number of members one hundred and twenty-seven. Two years 
afterwards the church is reported as vacant, yet consisting of one 
hundred and thirty-two members, having received, by profession^ 
the previous year, thirty. This is the greatest number of members 
ever reported. Rev. William Toby was installed as pastor, Dec. 
29th, 1835, and was dismissed from his pastoral charge Nov. 22d, 
1836, having sustained the office hardly one year. Rev. David 
Malin was ordained and installed over this church, April 25th. 
1838, and was dismissed Oct. 6th, 1840, having been called to take 
the place of an agent for the American Board of Commissioners 
for Foreign Missions. He was succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. 
Whitman Peck, who was ordained and installed Oct. 23d, 1844, 
and still remains. The number of members reported in 1846 was 
seventy. The church have an appropriate house of worship. They 
have been aided by the American Home Missionary Society, in 
the support of several of their pastors. 

Genoa Third Church. — This was a Congregational church, 
organized in the southern part of the town of Genoa, about the 
year 1805. It was attached to the Middle Association, and, on the 
division of that body, was assigned to the* Presbytery of Cayuga. 
It was never flourishing. The society with which the church was 
connected broke down in attempting to build a house of worship. 
The materials for their house were sold at constable's sale, and the 
society was dissolved. Feb. 16th, 1813, a committee of the Pres- 
bytery reported that they had dissolved the church, and recom- 
mended its members to other churches as was convenient. 

Lansing. — The town of Lansing was formerly the southern part 
of the town of Genoa (originally Milton). The church of Lansing 
was formed principally, if not wholly, of members from the First 
Church of Genoa, and was organized a Presbyterian church. This 
occurred in the year 1804, or near that time. The occasion of its 
organization was, a disagreement in the first church respecting a 



PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA. 



359 



site for a house of worship, and a preference, on the part of a 
number, of the Presbyterian mode of church government. This 
church, at first, was denominated the Presbyterian Church of Mil- 
ton, and the Second Church of Milton. In the neighborhood it 
was spoken of as the Tetertown Church. On the change of the 
name of the town to Genoa, that name was substituted in the place 
of the former, and on the organization of the town of Lansing, its 
place of worship being within the limits of that town, it was after 
that period denominated " the Church of Lansing." It was taken 
under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, Jan. 28th, 1806, and 
on the erection of the Presbytery of Cayuga, it was assigned to 
that body. Rev, Jabez Chadwick organized the church, and minis- 
tered to it, and on the twenty-sixth day of February, 1806, was 
installed its pastor. He continued in the pastorate till March 14th, 
1810, when the relation was dissolved. Rev. John Bascom was 
installed pastor of this church, May 27th, 1818, and continued in 
this relation till his death, in 1828. He was highly esteemed as a 
good and faithful minister of Jesus Christ. The year of his death 
the church is reported as consisting of ninety-one members, twen- 
ty-one having been added the preceding year by profession. Rev. 
Jabez Chadwick, their first pastor, succeeded Mr. Bascom, in the 
capacity of a stated supply, and acted in that capacity till about 
the commencement of the year 1831. He had changed his views 
on the subject of baptism a second time, and had renounced the 
baptism of infants, though he denied the necessity of immersion in 
baptism, and the invalidity of the baptism of those who had been 
baptized in their infancy. In consequence of this change of views 
in Mr. Chadwick, the Presbytery were unwilling to give him coun- 
tenance as a minister in good standing in the Presbyterian Church, 
and Mr. Chadwick sent them a communication, declaring " that he 
did deliberately, solemnly, and publicly secede or withdraw from 
the Presbytery, and declare himself independent of their jurisdic- 
tion and authority." In consequence of this state of affairs, the 
church of Lansing became divided. A part of the members left 
the church, as the writer is informed, without regular dismissions, 
and were formed by Mr. Chadwick into a new church, with a con- 
fession of faith tolerating his peculiar views. This transaction took 
place in 1830, or near the commencement of 1831. This division, 
as to number, probably about equally divided the church. In 1830, 
they reported ninety-one members ; in 1832, forty-five. But the 
church, though weakened, were not disposed to give up the ordi- 
nances of God's house. Rev. Alexander M. Cowan officiated as 
stated supply during the years 1834, '5, and '6. But the church 
continued feeble, and after some further attempts to support the 
gospel, and finding themselves unable, they formed a union with 
the Free Congregational Church of Genoa, " leaving," as a cor- 
respondent observes, " one of the largest and best finished houses 



360 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



of worship in the county wholly unoccupied and useless, except 
as a monument of the glaring absurdity of erecting large and 
expensive churches, in country places, where the population is 
either too sparse, or so distributed among the various denominations 
as to render large houses of worship unnecessary." 

Genoa First Free Congregational Church. — This is the church 
mentioned above, as organized by Mr. Chadwick, in 1830 or '31. 
It was composed chiefly, if not w 7 holly, of members from the 
church of Lansing, and has its location at a place denominated 
" The Five Corners." There was undoubtedly an irregularity in 
its organization. The period was at a time of irregularities, when 
a recklessness in religious, as well as in other affairs, was not unfre- 
quent. Mr. Chadwick ministered to them for a season. Messrs. 
Myrick, Warren, and others of that stamp, ministered to them. 
Many of the members became Perfectionists, and some of them 
were cut off from the church, and after a while, others of them 
withdrew, and thus the church was left, few in number, but 
evangelical and orthodox in their views. In this state of affairs, 
it became desirable that a union should take place between them 
and the Lansing church. To effect this their confession of faith 
was remodelled, and arrangements entered into satisfactory to all, 
and the union was consummated by dissolution of the church of 
Lansing, and the reception of its members into the other church. 
This union was consummated in 1842, or, perhaps, 1843. The 
church was received under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, 
in November, 1843. Rev. William S. Franklin was installed pas- 
tor of this church in January, 1844. The church, in 1846, reported 
ninety-three members. 

East Groton. — The town of Groton was formerly the southern 
half of the Military town of Locke. Its settlement commenced 
about the year 1795, by Messrs. Bouker, Hardin, and Rose. The 
early settlers were nearly all from Massachusetts and Connecticut. 
Many of them were from the town of Lee, and yet remember Dr. 
Alvan Hyde, their former pastor, with great veneration. Public 
worship was first set up in 1802. During the same year, " The 
First Congregational Society" was organized according to law. 
A church was organized, by a committee of the Middle Association, 
June 19th, 1805, consisting of eleven members, of whom six were 
males and five females. The Committee consisted of Rev. Messrs. 
Darrow and Chadwick, Deacon Peter Hitchcock, and Benjamin 
Close. The church was originally denominated the East Congre- 
gational church of Locke, and is known on the minutes of the 
Presbytery as the church of Locke. The church was in the first 
place connected with the Middle Association, and on the division 
of that body, was assigned to the Presbytery of Cayuga, with 



PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA. 



361 



which it continued in connexion till February, 1831, when it with- 
drew on account of the strong Congregational predilections of its 
members. Since that period it has remained independent of any 
ecclesiastical connexion. There have been connected with the 
church about one hundred and fifty different members. The pre- 
sent number of communicants (1846) is about two hundred and 
thirty. 

As supplies for short periods previous to the settlement of a 
pastor, may be named Rev. Messrs. Alvan Sanderson, Jabez 
Chad wick, Azariah Clark, and Seth Smith. July 12th, 1809, Rev. 
Joshua Lane was ordained and installed pastor of the church, by 
the Middle Association. He continued in the pastoral office till 
March 2d, 1813, when he was dismissed from his charge. He 
was succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. Joshua Dean, who was 
ordained and installed pastor, Nov. 30th, 1814. He was greatly 
beloved by his people, and continued their pastor till his death, 
which occurred Nov. 30th, 1824. He was succeeded by Rev. 
Oren Catlin, as stated supply for about two years, and was follow- 
ed by Rev. Marcus Harrison, who, after having labored about two 
years, was installed pastor, July 9th, 1828. He was dismissed 
June 16th, 1830. After Mr. Harrison's dismission, Rev. Messrs. 
Edwin Bronson, James B. McCreary, and Samuel Shaffer, sup- 
plied, each for a short season. Rev. Edwards A. Beach was 
installed pastor, April 8th, 1835, by a council convened for the 
purpose, and continued about five years. Rev. Ezra Scovill was 
installed pastor, by a council, July 7th, 1841, and continued about 
two years and a half. Rev. Andrew J. Fennel commenced labor- 
ing as stated supply in August, 1843, and at the commencement of 
1846, his labors were still continued. 

This church has from time to time been blessed with refreshings 
from the presence of the Lord. In the winter of 1805-'6, there was 
something of a revival. In 1816 and '17 there was the most re- 
markable revival ever witnessed in the place. As the results of it, 
about one hundred members were added to the church on their 
profession of faith. In 1826 and '27 there was something of a re- 
vival, and about thirty were added to the church. In 1831 and '32 
the Spirit was poured out, and a number added to the church. In 
1838 fifty-six were added at one time to the church, by profession. 
The Society have a very good house of worship, sixty feet in length 
by fifty in breadth, which was dedicated in January, "l 821. On the 
same territory from which the congregation on the Sabbath comes, 
there are six other churches, viz. three Methodist, two Baptist, 
and one Episcopal. There is also a Universalist Society, but 
neither of the denominations possesses more pecuniary strength 
than the Congregational. 



Kingston. — This church is not in Western New York, but in 



362 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Canada West. The author believes that it was organized abou 
the year 1825, and was composed of emigrants from the United 
States. It was denominated the Union Presbyterian Church of 
Kingston, and was received under the care of the Presbytery of 
Cayuga, July 5th, 1825. On the first day of September of the same 
year, Rev. Horatio Foot was ordained and installed pastor of the 
church, by the Presbytery, meeting in Kingston for the purpose. 
Mr. Foot was dismissed from his charge, Feb. 7th, 1828, and the 
church was dismissed to put itself under the care of the Presbytery 
of Watertown, as more convenient to its location, Jan. 19th, 1830. 
While it was connected with the Presbytery of Cayuga its number 
of members was never reported. After it was connected with the 
Presbytery of Watertown its name is found on the annual reports 
of that Presbytery to the General Assembly till 1833, after which 
it is seen no more. Its number of members that year was forty- 
two. What has become of this church is not known to the writer. 



363 



CHAPTER XXV. 

Presbytery of Geneva : — Wolcott Second Church, Wolcott, Huron, Sodus, Wayne,Wil- 
iiamson, Pulleneyville, Ontario, Walworth, Marion, Rose, Savannah, Clyde; Lyons, 
Newark, Port Gibson, East Palmyra, Palmyra, Farmin^ton, Vienna, Phelps, Junius, 
Tvre, Seneca Falls, Wateiloo, Canoga/Fayette, Geneva, Castleton, Hopewell, 
Chapinsville, Rushville, Gorham, Romulus, Ovid, West Dresden, Bellona, Pennyan, 
Bratichport, Pontiac, Canandaigua. 

In our progress westward, we now come to the mother of all the 
Preshyteries west of the Cayuga lake, and the oldest of all the 
Presbyteries in Western New York, 

THE PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA. 

Beginning ^t the north-eastern extremity of the territory em- 
braced by this Presbytery, we meet with 

Wolcott Second Church. — The time of the organization of this 
church is not known to the writer. It is found on the report of 
the Presbytery to the General Assembly for 1825. The writer 
supposes that this was soon after its organization. It was then 
denominated Wolcott Third Church. It is often spoken of as the 
church of Red Creek, its location being in a small village known 
by that name. In 1826, it consisted of twenty-five members ; in 
1832 it reported forty-nine, sixteen having been received the year 
previous. In 1843, it reported eighty-four members. Till 1836, it 
was uniformly reported as vacant. Since that period Rev. Messrs. 
James T. Hough, William Clarke, Henry Boynton, and Alanson 
Scofield, have successively officiated as stated supplies for different 
terms of time. Mr. Scofield is supplying at the present time. The 
church has been aided in the support of its minsters by the Ameri- 
can Home Missionary Society. While Mr. Boynton was officiat- 
ing, a blessed revival was enjoyed, as the result of which the 
church more than doubled the number of its members. It has an 
appropriate house of worship. Its members are greatly intermixed 
with those of other denominations. 

Wolcott. — The history of this church is involved with that of 
Huron, which was the original church of Wolcott, till its organi- 
zation as a separate church. The author's correspondent says this 
was in 1827; but the records of the Presbytery of Geneva state, 
that it was received under the care of that Presbytery, September 



364 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



1st, 1818. It was organized as a Presbyterian Church by a com- 
mittee of the Presbytery, and consisted of twelve members taken 
from the original church of Wolcott. For a number of years it 
was known as the Second Presbyterian Church of Wolcott, but 
after the original church took the name of Port Bay, this church 
was denominated the First ^Presbyterian Church of Wolcott. In 
1825, this church reported twenty-nine members ; in 1834, fifty-one ; 
and in 1846, one hundred and forty-three. For a period of about 
eight years, Rev. Messrs. Chittenden, Powell, Chapin, Bogue, 
Clark, and Hopkins, officiated some part of the time as stated sup- 
plies. Rev. Nathaniel Merrill was installed as pastor of this church 
and that of Huron, in 1835, and sustained the relation till about the 
time of his death in 1839. Rev. Thomas Wright commenced 
preaching here, October, 1839, and was ordained and installed 
pastor of the church in August of the same year ; he still retains 
the station. This church has been favored with several seasons of 
refreshing from the presence of the Lord. One in 1833, when Mr. 
Hopkins was stated supply ; another in 1838, while Mr. Merrill was 
pastor; and another in 1841, since the installation of Mr. Wright. 
They have erected an appropriate house of worship- fifty-six feet 
in length and forty-six in breadth. They have received aid from 
the American Home Missionary Society, to the amount of about 
$200. There are intermingled with this church respectable 
churches of the Baptist and Methodist denominations, with appro- 
priate houses of worship. There is also a small Society of 
Universalists. 

Huron. — This town is a part of the original town of Wolcott, 
which in 1810 was set off from the north end of Junius, and includ- 
ed the present towns of Huron, Wolcott, Butler, and Rose. The 
town of Huron when first organized as a separate town, was named 
Port Bay. Afterwards it was changed to Huron. The settlement 
of the town commenced in 1807, by families from New Marlbo- 
rough in Massachusetts, and New Hartford in Connecticut. In this 
wilderness they were soon visited with sickness to such an extent 
that those who were well were hardly sufficient to take care of the 
sick, but after a period the sickness abated, and health was restored. 
Having enjoyed the privileges of the gospel from their earliest 
years, they soon established religious order, and the observance of 
the Sabbath as a day of social worship. Missionaries occasionally 
visited them, but no church was organized till 1813. On the 
eighteenth day of July of that year, Rev. Henry Axtell, and Rev. 
Charles Mosher, organized a church consisting of twenty-three 
members, twenty of whom had previously been members of 
churches. The church was denominated " the First Presbyterian 
Church of Wolcott," after the division of the town " Port Bay," and 
subsequently " Huron." This church at its organization included the 



PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA. 



3G5 



professors of religion of the Presbyterian denomination throughout 
the original town of Wolcott, and it may be considered as the mo- 
ther of the present churches of Wolcott first, and second, and Rose. 
It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, Sept. 
22d, 1813. In 1825 it numbered sixty-three members; in 1845 
one hundred and thirty-one. Rev. Daniel S. Butrick, then a licen- 
tiate, but for many years past a missionary to the Cherokees, under 
the patronage of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign 
Missions, labored here as a stated supply for about two years. Rev. 
William Clark was installed pastor of the church, Jan. 31st, 1816, 
and continued in that station till Sept. 3d, 1823, when he was dis- 
missed. The labors of these men, and of some who followed them, 
for short periods were extended over the whole town. After the 
division of the church, Rev. Nathan Gillett supplied for a period oi 
two years and a half. Rev. Publius V. Bogue was his successor, 
and after him Rev. Eli F. Adams ; Rev. Jesse Townsend succeeded 
him for a season. Rev. Nathaniel Merrill was the next. He was 
installed pastor of this church in connexion with that of Wolcott 
First Church, as has already been stated, in 1835, and continued to 
officiate about one year and a half, till near the period of his death. 
After him Rev. Jacob Burbank officiated as stated supply for a sea- 
son. Rev. Henry S. Redfield was ordained and installed pastor, 
Sept. 5th, 1839, and dismissed Sept. 3d, 1840. Rev. Edmund F. 
Waldo was ordained and installed as pastor of the church, Feb. 
17th, 1842. He continued in this relation till May 27th, 1845, 
when he was dismissed. Since that period the church has had sup- 
plies of preaching, but no regular pastor. 

This church has been favored with several seasons of revival. 
During the period of Mr. Gillett's labors an interesting work of grace 
was manifested, and twenty-six members were added to the church. 
The labors of Mr. Adams were much blessed to the building up of 
the church. Under the ministry of Mr. Burbank, twenty new mem- 
bers were added to the church, and sixty-eight during the ministry 
of Mr. Waldo. In the support of several of its ministers the church 
has been aided by the American Home Missionary Society. They 
have a house of worship, which is forty-six feet in length by thirty- 
eight in breadth. The territory occupied by this church is not 
large. Other denominations but little prevail, and the greater part 
of the community are attendants upon the Presbyterian church. 

Sodus. — The settlement of the town of Sodus commenced at an 
early period. At what period public worship was instituted, is not 
known to the writer. A church of the Congregational order, con- 
sisting of fifteen members, was organized, Oct. 23d, 1812, by Rev. 
Messrs. David Tallar and Solomon Allen. Of the members, seven 
were males, and eight females ; twelve had been previously mem- 
bers of churches, and three were received on profession. The 



366 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



next year the church adopted the Presbyterian form of organiza- 
tion, and was received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, 
April 21st, 1813. In 1825, the church reported fifty-nine mem- 
bers ; in 1829, one hundred and twenty-nine, and, in 1846, it con- 
sisted of one hundred and seventy-six members. What amount of 
ministerial aid the church enjoyed previous to 1827, is not known 
to the writer. In January of that year, Rev. Jesse Townsend 
commenced laboring with them as a stated supply, and continued 
four years. His ministry was attended by the power of the Holy 
Spirit, and an enlargement of the church. During the year 1828, 
more than forty members were added to the church by profession. 
Rev. Joseph Merrill officiated as stated supply for a season, and 
others have been employed at different times. In 1833, Rev. Con- 
way P. Wing was ordained and installed pastor of the church, but 
was dismissed the following year. Rev. Charles Merwin was or- 
dained and installed paster, Feb. 17, 1842. He was dismissed 
Sept. 4th, 1844. Rev. Hosea Kittridge commenced laboring as a 
stated supply in May, 1844, and still remains in that capacity. 
This church has never since its organization been long at a time 
without the stated preaching of the gospel. In 1831-2 this church 
enjoyed a season of divine influence, which resulted in the addi- 
tion of more than forty members to the church. They have re- 
ceived aid from the American Home Missionary Society, in the 
support of Messrs. Townsend, YVing, and Kittredge. They have 
an appropriate house of worship, forty-eight feet in length, and 
thirty-eight in width. The Methodists and Episcopalians have 
each a house of worship in the village. There are also in the 
town many Close Commnion Baptists, Free Will Baptists, German 
Lutherans, and German Methodists. The Episcopal Methodists 
are the most numerous denomination. 

Wayne. — This church has its place of worship in the town of 
Sodus. Its members reside, some in the town of Sodns, and seme 
in the town of Arcadia. It may be considered as occupying num- 
ber 13 in the first range of townships in Phelps and Gorham's Pur- 
chase. This township began to be settled about the year 1806, but 
till 1845 no church of the Presbyterian denomination existed. The 
members of that denomination in the township were connected 
with the church of Sodus, or that of Arcadia. On the eighteenth 
day of March, 1845, a Presbyterian church, consisting of eighteen 
members, was constituted by a committee of the Presbytery of 
Geneva. Eleven of the members were taken from the church of 
Sodus, and five from the church of Newark, in the town of Arca- 
dia, so that the church may be said to have been formed from those 
two churches. At the time of the organization of the church, and 
for a few weeks previous, Rev. James H. Hotchkin preached in 
the settlement, and assisted in the organization of the church. 



/ 



PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA. 



367 



Soon afterwards he was engaged for two thirds of the time for one 
year, and fulfilled his engagement. Since Mr. Hotchkin left, Rev. 
George L. Haskins, residing in Marion, has supplied a part of the 
time, and some additions have been made to the church. But it 
remains small and feeble. Its house of worship is a large school- 
house, not occupied by other denominations. The members of 
the church live intermixed with members of the Reformed Dutch, 
German Lutheran, German Methodist, Methodist Episcopal, Bap- 
tist, and Free Will Baptist churches. The Methodists are by far 
the most numerous denomination. 

Williamson. — Respecting the settlement of this town, the writer 
has no definite information, nor does he know at what period the 
church was organized. It was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Geneva, February 3d, 1818. In 1825, it reported 
forty-one members belonging to the church. In 1832, it reported 
112, having received on profession the year previous, sixty-nine. 
This is the last report found on record. Rev. Samuel White was 
ordained and installed pastor, February 24th, 1818, and was dis- 
missed February 7th, 1828. Since the dismission of Mr. White 
they have never enjoyed the labors of a regularly settled pastor, 
and for a large portion of the time have been reported as a vacant 
church. As stated supplies, Rev. Messrs. Jacob Burbank, Daniel 
Washburn, John F. Bliss, James M'Masters, H. B. Taylor, and 
Lyman Manly, have labored at different periods. In the support of 
several of these the church has been aided by the American Home 
Missionary Society. They have a house of worship which was 
built about the year 1828. The name of this church is not found 
in the reports of the Presbytery since 1837. The writer supposes 
that it has left its connexion with the Presbytery, and joined some 
Congregational body, or stands in an independent state. 

Pulteneyville. — This village is situated on the shore of Lake 
Ontario, in the town of Williamson. Its settlement began at a 
pretty early period. In 1832-33, a church was here organized 
consisting of fifty-one members, of whom forty-eight were taken, as 
the writer supposes, from the church of Williamson. It was taken 
the same year under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva. Its 
name is found from year to year on the reports of the Presbytery, 
and it is uniformly reported as vacant. No report of the number 
of members is given. Though the church has been reported 
vacant it has not always been so ; Rev. Messrs. John F. Bliss, 
Jacob Burbank, and Alfred C. Lathrop, have officiated as stated 
supplies under the patronage of the American Home Missionary 
Society. But the church has never been prosperous, and as a 
separate church has become extinct, and is merged in the church of 
Williamson. 



368 WESTERN NEW YORK. 

Ontario. — The settlement of this town was probably coeval with 
that of the adjoining towns. A church of the Congregational order 
was organized, which was received under the care of the Presbytery 
of Geneva, March 25th, 1817. It is supposed that it consisted of a 
small number of members, as in 1825 it consisted of seventeen only. 
Since that period its number has not been reported to the Presby- 
tery. Its name is found on the annual reports of the Presbytery 
for the last time in 1831. The church has never been large, but its 
number of members is not known to the writer. It has never had 
a regularly installed pastor. As stated supplies, Rev. Messrs. John 
F. Bliss, Alfred Eddy, Jacob Burbank, and Lyman Manly, under 
the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, have at 
different periods officiated. During the year in which Mr. Eddy 
officiated, in 1838-9, the Spirit of God was poured out, and the 
church more than doubled the number of its members. For several 
years past, Rev. Lyman Manly has regularly supplied the congre- 
gation. They have a small but very neat house of worship, built of 
stone, and coated with pebbles from the lake shore. It was erected 
in 1841. Whether the church is independent, or connected with 
some Congregational judicatory, is not known to the writer. 

Walworth. — The settlement of this town commenced about the 
year 1800, by emigrants mostly from Connecticut. For a number 
of years stated public worship was not enjoyed. A passing mis- 
sionary occasionally preached a sermon or spent a Sabbath. About 
1812, a Baptist clergyman by the name of Irons established stated 
preaching for a season. In the summer of 1817, Rev. Eleazer 
Fairbanks assisted in organizing a Congregational Church at the 
place now called "Walworth Corners." It consisted of about 
twenty members. The church, however, did not flourish. By 
deaths and removals its ranks were thinned, and the church became 
nearly extinct. In the month of November, 1832, a Presbyterian 
Church consisting of six members, was organized by Rev. Samuel 
W. Whelpley, Rev. Joseph K. Ware, and Rev. Daniel Johnson. 
This church was styled " The First Presbyterian Church of Wal- 
worth." Soon after this, the church was taken under the care of 
the Presbytery of Geneva. No accessions were made to the 
church till June, 1834 ; but the church lay in almost a dormant 
state. About the time of this last named period, Rev. Joseph K. 
Ware became their stated supply and continued in this capacity 
for a period of three years. The church became fully organized 
by the election and designation to office as ruling elders of the 
church of John Stevens and Samuel Curtis. During the period of 
Mr. Ware's ministry forty members were added to the church, and 
they still worshipped in a school-house at Walworth Corners. In 
the month of October, 1837, Rev. Royal West took the spiritual 
oversight of the church as stated supply, and continued his ministry 



PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA. 



369 



among them for four years. Mr. West's ministry was attended 
with spiritual blessings. During the year 1839, twenty-five mem- 
bers were added to the church; in 1840, thirty-one, and in 1841, 
nine, making the church in October, 1841, to consist of seventy-six 
members. In November of that year, Rev. Francis E. Lord, then 
a licentiate preacher, commenced preaching to the congregation, 
and was ordained and installed pastor of the church, Sept. 28th, 
1842. He was dismissed from his pastoral charge, August 12th, 
1845, and was succeeded in November of that year by Rev. J. W. 
Fox as stated supply. During Mr. Lord's ministry nineteen mem- 
bers were added to the church by profession, and nine by letter. 
The church in 1845 numbered seventy-two members. In the sup- 
port of Messrs. Ware, West, and Lord, the church was aided by the 
American Home Missionary Society. They now contribute to 
the treasury of that Society, and support their own minister. They 
have an appropriate house of worship, which was completed, and, 
on the thirtieth day of June, 1840, dedicated to the honor and 
worship of the triune God. 

Marion. — This town, formerly a part of Williamson, began to 
be settled about the year 1800, by families from Connecticut and 
Pennsylvania. A church of the Congregational order, consisting 
of five men and three women, was organized, Nov. 1st, 1808, by 
Rev. Messrs. Oliver Ayer and James H. Hotchkin. With the 
organization of the church stated public worship commenced. The 
church at its organization, and for some time afterwards, was 
known as the Congregational church of Williamson. It became 
connected with the Ontario Association, June 13th, 1809, and con- 
tinued in that connexion till the dissolution of the Association. In 
1831 or 1832, the church made application to be received under 
the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, but the question of their 
reception was postponed on the ground that the church had adopted 
a new Confession of Faith, which, in the estimation of the Presby- 
tery, was materially defective. The application was never prose- 
cuted any further. Whether the church stands independent, or is 
connected with some Congregational body, is not known to the 
writer. The church has been furnished, from time to time, with 
ministerial aid. Rev. Howell R. Powell ministered for some time ; 
Rev. Jacob Burbank four years, from the commencement of 1826 ; 
Rev. James Boyle two years ; Rev. Messrs. Bronson, Merritt, Lee, 
and Mann ; Rev. George L. Haskins in 1845 and 1846. An in- 
teresting revival of religion was enjoyed in 1826 and '7, under the 
labors of Mr. Burbank; also in 1839, under the ministry of Mr. 
Merritt, and in 1843, under the ministry of Mr. West. In 1830 
and '31, under the ministry of Mr. Boyle, a high religious state of 
feeling was produced, a season of great excitement, and one 
hundred individuals said to be converted. It is believed, however, 

24 



370 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



that many of these conversions proved in the issue to be spurious; 
though, no doubt, some of them were genuine. These revivals 
added considerable numbers to the church, which in 1846 consisted 
of one hundred and fourteen members. They have been aided by 
the American Home Missionary Society several times in the sup- 
port of their ministers. They have an appropriate house of wor- 
ship, fifty feet in length and thirty-six in breadth, erected in 1831. 
The congregation are intermixed with Baptists and Christians, 
each of which has a house of worship, and the three denominations 
are nearly equal in numbers and pecuniary ability. 

Rose. — The town of Rose, it has already been stated, was for- 
merly a part of the original town of Wolcott, and its early re- 
ligious history is involved in that of Huron. The present town of 
Rose began to be settled about the year 1800, by emigrants from 
Connecticut and Massachusetts. A Presbyterian church, composed 
of eight members from the original church of Wolcott, was organ- 
ized, Feb. 17th, 1825, by Rev. Messrs. Francis Pomeroy and 
Benjamin B. Stockton. The church was taken under the care of 
the Presbytery of Geneva, probably in 1826, as in the spring of 
1827, it is named in the report of the Presbytery, and then con- 
sisted of twenty-eight members. In 1832, it reported forty mem- 
bers, seventeen having been added by profession the preceding 
year. In 1846, seventy-six members were reported. The church 
has never had a regularly installed pastor. As stated supplies the 
following-named ministers have officiated : — Rev. Jonathan Hovey, 
one third part of the time from February, 1825, till his death,, 
which occurred the following August — (he was aged seventy- 
two years) ; Rev. Nathan Gillett, one third of the time for two 
years from March, 1827; Rev. William Clark, a part of the time 
for near six years from June, 1829 ; Rev. Jesse Townsend, ten 
months in 1835 and '36; Rev. Daniel Waldo, for two years from 
April, 1837 ; and Rev. Beaufort Ladd, from April, 1840, to the 
present time. Several periods of revival have been enjoyed, but 
not extensive. In the support of Mr. Ladd, the church have been 
aided by the American Home Missionary Society in six years to 
the amount of $428, and in the same period they have contributed 
to the treasury of that Society $128. 

In 1846, some of the members of the church being dissatisfied 
with the government of ruling elders, the church adopted the 
Congregational form of government, still retaining their connexion 
with the Presbytery. The church has an appropriate house of 
worship, forty feet in length and thirty-two in width, which was 
erected in 1833. For several years past the subject of abolition 
has to some extent agitated this church, and a number of the 
members have disorderly withdrawn from its fellowship, and or- 
ganized themselves into an independent church, because the church 



PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA. 



371 



would not adopt all their measures. The other religious denomi- 
nations intermixed with the church are, the Baptist, Episcopal 
Methodist, Protestant Methodist, and True Wesleyan Methodist. 
The Methodists are the most numerous denomination, and possess 
the most wealth. 

Savannah. — Of the settlement of this town the writer has no 
information. Respecting the church, its name is found in the re- 
ports of the Presbytery of Geneva for the years 1836, 1837, and 
1840. Nothing is reported respecting it, except it was vacant in 
each instance. September 2d, 1841, the church gave notice of their 
withdrawal from the Presbytery. The reasons for this step are not 
known to the writer. 

Clyde. — This is a very respectable village situated on the Clyde 
river and Erie canal in the town of Galen. The place in the early 
period of the settlement was known by the appellation of " The 
Block House." It derived the name from a block house erected on 
the spot, during the war of the Revolution, by some Tories and 
smugglers, for the purpose of bringing goods and provisions from 
Canada, to trade with the Indians. This house was burned near 
the close of the war, and the place where it stood became over- 
grown with underbrush and trees. The first dwelling that was 
erected after the war of the Revolution, was a miserable shantee, 
erected by Jonathan Melvin, junr., on the northern bank of the 
river, about a mile west of the lock on the canal. This was in 1808. 

The next year Mr. Melvin built a good substantial log-house on 
the south side of the river, on the site of the present village of 
Clyde. This was the first house erected in the village. Sodus 
Bay, at this period, was becoming a place of some notoriety, and 
large expectations were formed respecting its future importance in 
a commercial point of view. A considerable settlement was already 
formed at the Bay. A road from Seneca fort to Sodus Bay be- 
came an object of high importance to the community, and especially 
to the settlers in the town of Junius, which then included the pre- 
sent towns of Seneca Falls, Waterloo, Junius, Tyre, Savannah, 
Galen, Rose, Butler, Wolcott, and Huron. Accordingly, by the 
exertions of Willhelmus Mynderse, Jesse Southwick, and Jona- 
than. Melvin, a road was constructed, and a bridge built across the 
river at the village of Clyde. This was effected in the year 1809, 
and it greatly facilitated the settlement of the village and its vicinity. 
The settlers were partly of Dutch origin, and partly emigrants from 
New England. 

Occasional preaching by travelling missionaries and others was 
enjoyed from an early period, but no regular stated public worship 
until about the period of the organization of the church, which took 
place July 8th, 1814. The church in Presbyterian order was orga- 



372 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



nized by Rev. Francis Pomeroy and Rev. Hippocrates Rowe, and 
it consisted of eight members, five of whom were males. It was 
taken under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, August 9th, 1815 ? 
and was known as the church of Galen, on the reports of the Pres- 
bytery till 1840. It is now known as the church of Clyde. Though 
the church was small in the beginning, it has been a growing, pros- 
perous church. In 1825, it reported fifty-four members ; the next 
year one hundred and eight, having received sixty-one during the 
previous year ; in 1832, two hundred and thirty-eight, seventy-five 
having been admitted by profession the year previous. Since that 
time the number has been less; but in January, 1846, it was one 
hundred and eighty-five. In 1819, Rev. Charles Mosher com- 
menced preaching to the congregation. He was installed pastor 
July 13th, 1820, and dismissed December 12th, 1822. He was 
succeeded by Rev. Jabez Spicer, as stated supply, who continued 
two years. Rev. B. Foster Pratt commenced preaching in October 
1825, was installed pastor in December following, and continued 
about four years. He was followed by Rev. Conrad Ten Eyck. 
who labored as stated supply two years, from October, 1830. 
About this time Rev. James Boyle preached and held meeting, 
more or less, for about three months. Rev. Maltby Gelston com- 
menced labor in March, 1833, was installed pastor in the same 
year, and dismissed in February, 1836. Rev Josiah Fisher com- 
menced preaching in February, 1836, was installed in September 
of the same year, and dismissed in April, 1840. Rev. John Gray 
and Rev. James Byrney officiated as stated supplies for short 
periods. Rev. Samuel J. M. Beebe commenced preaching in 
January, 1842, and was ordained and installed pastor of the church 
on the 9th day of November of the same year, and still retains his 
station. 

A precious season of revival was enjoyed in 1825, adding to the 
church more than sixty members. In 1831-2, about one hundred 
members were added to the church by profession, mostly as the 
result of the meetings conducted by Mr. Boyle. This, however, 
it is thought, was more an increase of members than of strength to 
the church. Also, under the labors of the present pastor, in 1842-3 ? 
a precious season of divine influence has been enjoyed, as the re- 
sult of which thirty-three were added to the church on their pro- 
fession of faith in Christ. 

In the support of Mr. Spicer and Mr. Pratt, the church was aided 
by the American Home Missionary Society. They have a com- 
modious house of worship, sixty feet in length, and forty-five in 
width, erected in 1829. The other denominations in the village 
and its vicinity are, Episcopal Methodists, Protestant Methodists, 
New School Baptists, Old School Baptists, Episcopalians, and Ger- 
mans. There are also some Quakers, some Campbellites, and 
some Universalists. The Episcopal Methodists and the New 



PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA. 



373 



School Baptists have flourishing churches, numbering more than 
one hundred members each. These, with the Episcopalians, have 
neat and commodious houses of worship. 

Lyons. — The present town of Lyons was incorporated in 1811. 
Previous to this period it was a part of the town of Sodus. The 
permanent settlement of what is now the town of Lyons commenced 
about 1794, by immigrants from New Jersey and the south-eastern 
part of Xew York. The descendants of these and immigrants 
from Xew England and Germany constitute the present population 
of the town. The earliest public religious worship in the town 
was held by the Episcopal Methodists, and was commenced as 
early as 1797. Public worship was first set up by Presbyterians, 
in what is now the village of Lyons, in 1798. The first Presby- 
terian preaching was only occasional, and at irregular intervals, by 
itinerant missionaries. The Presbyterian church, consisting of 
twenty members, eleven males and nine females, was organized by 
Rev. John Lindsley, missionary, in 1809. It was called the "First 
Presbyterian Church of Sodus in the village of Lyons." It is now 
called the "First Presbyterian Church of Lyons," and is the only 
Presbyterian church in the town. It was composed of individuals 
who had been members of churches in the places from wmich they 
had emigrated. The church has remained unaltered in its ecclesi- 
astical polity to the present time. It has increased in number con- 
tinuallv till, in 1846. there were belonging to it three hundred and 
seventy members, about forty of whom were absent. 

Rev. John Stuart was the first Presbyterian minister who preach- 
ed regularly in this place. He was the stated supply for about two 
years, commencing early in 1810. Rev. Francis Pomeroy w r as the 
first pastor. He was installed June 29th, 1814, and continued in 
the pastoral office till Feb. 1st, 1825, when he was regularly dis- 
missed. He was succeeded by Rev. Lucas Hubbell, who was in- 
stalled Sept. 21st, 1825, and continued in the pastorate till Oct. 1st, 
1839, when the relation was regularly dissolved. Rev. Ira Ingra- 
ham, the present pastor, was installed March 10th, 1840. There 
have been several seasons of special religious interest, in which 
the church has received numerous accessions. Such seasons were 
enjoyed in 1821-2 under the pastoral labors of Mr. Pomeroy, in 
1831 and 1834 during the ministry of Mr. Hubbell, and in 1842-3 
under the labors of Mr. Ingraham. 

This church has always supported its own pastor without foreign 
aid. It has a good house of worship, sixty-eight feet in length by 
forty-eight in width, constructed of brick, and erected in 1825. It 
is thought that one fourth of those who attend worship anywhere 
in the town, meet with this church. There are five other regular 
congregations which meet for worship in the village of Lyons, 



374 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



viz. — Methodist Episcopal, Protestant Episcopal, German Lutheran, 
Baptist, and German Methodist. The order in which they are 
here named, is probably the order of their comparative numerical 
strength. Each of these denominations, the German Methodists 
excepted, has an appropriate house of worship. 

Newark. — The village of Newark is situated on the Erie canal, 
in the town of Arcadia. Its rise is in consequence of the construc- 
tion of the canal. The name of the Presbyterian Church is found 
on the reports of the Presbytery of Geneva for the first time in 
1826. It was then reported as containing eighty-two members, 
and as vacant. In 1832, the number was two hundred and forty- 
four, one hundred and seventy-two having been added by profes- 
sion the preceding year. In 1843, the whole number of members 
was one hundred and forty-two, and, in 1846, two hundred and 
fourteen. Rev. Alfred E. Campbell was the first pastor, and 
officiated two or three years. He received a commission to labor 
with this church, from the American Home Missionary Society, 
dated November, 1826, which was renewed the next year. He 
was succeeded by Rev. Peter Kanouse, who continued about two 
years. In the years 1831 and 1832, the church is reported as 
statedly supplied. Rev. James Boyle preached here a part of the 
time during that period. In 1833 and 1834, Rev. Joseph K. Ware 
officiated as stated supply. He was followed by Rev. George VV. 
Elliot as pastor, who continued but a short time, and was succeeded 
by Rev. David Cushing, who continued two or three years, and 
was dismissed, Oct. 6th, 1843. During the ministry of Mr. Camp- 
bell, a measure of the converting influences of the Holy Spirit was 
experienced, and considerable accessions made to the church. In 
1831-2, under the preaching of Mr. Boyle, a very great excite- 
ment prevailed, and a great number of individuals were added to 
the church. No doubt many of these were truly converted, but it 
is noticeable that in one year from the period of their reception the 
number of members in the church was diminished more than forty, 
and the diminution continued from year to year till from two hun- 
dred and forty-four members, the number was reduced to one 
hundred and forty-two. During the ministry of Mr. Shumway, 
the Spirit has been poured out in his converting influences, and a 
goodly number have been added to the Lord and to the church. 

This church has received aid from the Home Missionary Society 
in the support of Mr. Campbell, but in no other instance. They 
have a commodious house of worship erected in 1828. The 
Methodist, the Baptist, and the Universalist denominations have 
each a house of worship in the village. 

Port Gibson. — This is a small village on the Erie canal in the 
town of Manchester, and like most of the villages on the canal, of 



PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA. 



375 



comparatively recent origin. The Presbyterian church was orga- 
nized in 1832,. consisting at the time of making its first report of 
forty-four members, of whom forty-one were received by letter and 
three by profession. The church soon after its organization was 
received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva. The village 
has not progressed in population like many other villages on the 
canal, and the Presbyterian church has not greatly progressed. 
In 1843, it reported fifty-eight members. Rev. Daniel Johnson, 
under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, 
ministered here one year from June, 1832, and Rev. Jesse 
Townsend, under the same patronage, for a season in 1836. In 
1847, it is reported as having a stated supply, but it has generally 
been reported as vacant, and is in a feeble state. 

East Palmyra. — The town of Palmyra including, as it formerly 
did, the town of Macedon, comprising Nos. 12 in the second and 
third Ranges in Phelps and Gorham's purchase, was purchased of 
Messrs. Phelps and Gorham, by Genl. John Swift and John Jen- 
kins, July 3d, 1789. In 1791, a company on Long Island formed for 
the purpose of making a purchase in the wilderness, and hearing 
of the tk Genesee Country," so called, sent out as their agents Elias 
Reeves and Abraham Foster, who came to Palmyra and made a 
purchase of 5,500 acres of land in the north-eastern corner of 
the town. In the spring of 1792, the company moved on to their 
purchase. In that company were five persons who were members 
of the Presbyterian Church in Southampton on Long Island, and 
two of them, Stephen Reeves and David H. Foster, sustained the 
office of ruling-elder in the church. They arrived on the second 
day of May at their new residence, and the next Lord's day com- 
menced public worship. From that period public worship has been 
regularly maintained every Sabbath to the present time. The 
meetings at first were held in a private dwelling ; but in the autumn 
of 1793, they were moved to a school-house which had been erected 
that summer. Under the means of grace which had been enjoyed a 
few individuals had been hopefully converted unto God, and it was 
thought expedient that a church should be organized. This was 
effected in the year 1793, by the assistance of Rev. Ira Condict, a 
missionary under an appointment of the General Assembly. The 
church adopted the Congregational form of church government, 
and some years afterwards was connected with the Ontario Associ- 
ation. This was the first instance of the organization of a Congre- 
gational Church which remained permanent in the Genesee country, 
and the first in Western New York, if we except the church of 
Windsor. It is doubtful which of these churches has the priority. 
They were both constituted in 1793, but the precise date of the 
organization of the church of Palmyra is not known. The records 
for the first twenty years of its existence are mostly lost. Neither 



376 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



can it now be ascertained what was the number of members at the 
time of organization. In 1807, the church adopted the Presbyte- 
rian form of church government, and became connected with the 
Presbytery of Geneva. 

After the organization of the church, it was occasionally visited 
and assisted by itinerating missionaries. In 1795 a Mr. Johnson 
was employed for a season to preach to the people. In 1800 Rev. 
Eleazar Fairbanks had charge of the congregation, and continued 
his services with them two or three years. After him a Mr. Lane, 
an Englishman, who had received a license to preach in the Wes- 
leyan connexion in England, but who had no connexion with any 
ecclesiastical body in this country, was employed to preach for a 
season. In 1807 Rev. Benjam'n Bell was employed to preach to 
the congregation, and continued for some time. He was minister- 
ing here in the latter part of the year 1808. In 1811 or y \2, Rev. 
Hippocrates Rowe was engaged as a supply, and was ordained and 
installed pastor of the church, July 8th, 1813. He was dismissed 
May 2d, 1816. Up to this period the preacher or pastor hati 
preached alternately in the east and west parts of the town, and 
the parish was considered as including in its limits the whole town,, 
embracing what is now the town of Macedon. Mr. Rowe was 
succeeded by Mr. Stephen M. Wheelock, a licentiate preacher^ 
who officiated as stated supply. 

Feb. 13th, 1817, in accordance with the request of the church, 
the Presbytery divided it into two separate churches, the eastern 
one to be called the Presbyterian church of East Palmyra. As the 
original church was organized within the limits of this, and as it re- 
tained the church records, so far as any existed, it is proper that it 
be considered as the original church of Palmyra continued. Of 
what number of members the church was composed at the time of 
the division is not known to the writer. In 1825 the number re- 
ported was one hundred and six, but the next year it was diminished 
to eighty. In 1833 the number reported was only thirty-three. In 
1846 it had increased to ninety-two. If those reports were cor- 
rectly stated the author knows not how to account for the great di- 
minution of members at times, unless on the supposition that other 
churches in the neighborhood were formed from this. For a short 
period after the division of the church Mr. Daniel S. Butrick, then 
a licentiate, now. and for many years past, a faithful missionary 
among the Cherokee Indians, supplied the pulpit of this church. On 
the seventeenth day of August, 1817, Rev. Benjamin Baily was in- 
stalled pastor, and sustained that relation till Sept. 5th, 1821, when 
he was dismissed. The next pastor was Rev. Francis Pomeroy. 
At what time he commenced his ministry is not known to the 
writer. He was pastor in 1825, and was reported as such for the 
last time in 183 1 . From 1832 to 1837, inclusive, the church was 
reported as vacant. In 1839 Rev. Benjamin B. Smith officiated as 



PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA . 



377 



stated supply, under the patronage of the American Home Missionary 
Society. For several years past Rev. Eliphalet A. Piatt has offici- 
ated as stated supply, and under his ministry the church seems to 
be rising from her state of depression to a more prosperous condi- 
tion. They have a house of worship which was erected in 1807. 
At a meeting of the Ontario Association, held in a school-house 
within the bounds of this congregation, June 9th, 1802, Rev. Daniel 
W. Eastman, a licentiate from Upper Canada, was ordained to the 
work of the gospel ministry. The ministers officiating in the ordi- 
nation were Rev. Joseph Grover, Rev. Reuben Parmele, and Rev. 
Eleazar Fairbanks. The writer, then a licensed preacher, was 
present on the occasion. This was the second ordination that had 
ever taken place in the Genesee country in the Congregational de- 
nomination, and years before any had taken place in the Presbyte- 
rian denomination. Mi*. Eastman was a native of Xew Jersey, 
and had received a license to preach from the Morris County Asso- 
ciated Presbytery. There was no ecclesiastical body in Upper 
Canada to which he could apply for ordination. His location was 
in the vicinity of the Falls of Niagara. A few years since he was, 
and, for aught the writer knows, still is, laboring in his Master's ser- 
vice in that field. 

Palmyra. — We have already, in the preceding article, noticed 
the purchase of the town of Palmyra, in 1789, by General John 
Swift and John Jenkins. The settlement of the western part of 
the town commenced the same summer by Gen. Swift. He was 
originally from the State of Connecticut, but immediately from 
Wyoming, in Pennsylvania. The next year several families moved 
in from Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The commencement of 
religious worship, the organization of a church, and its history 
down to the time of its division by the Presbytery, Feb. 26th, 1817, 
have been already narrated in the preceding article. . The por- 
tion of the church constituting the western division, were assisted 
in completing their organization by Rev. Francis Pomeroy, and 
were denominated the " Western Pre'sbyterian Church of Palmyra." 
On the reports of the Presbytery since 1825, it has been designated 
the church of " Palmyra." " The church, at the period of Its or- 
ganization as a separate church, consisted of fiftv-six members. 
In April, 1847, it enumerated three hundred and twenty members, 
of whom about fifty were non-resident. After the division, Mr. 
Stephen M. Wheelock, a licentiate preacher, supplied the con- 
gregation for a season. The first pastor was Rev. Jesse Townsend, 
who was installed August 29th, 1817. He continued about three 
years. In January, 1822, Rev. Daniel C. Hopkins became their 
stated supply, and continued two years. Feb. 18th, 1824, Rev. 
Benjamin B. Stockton was installed pastor of the church, and con- 
tinued nearly four years. In October, 1827, Rev. Stephen Porter 



378 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



was employed as a stated supply, and remained nearly one year. 
In November, 1828, Rev. Alfred E. Campbell was called to be 
their pastor, and continued with them two years and eight months. 
In Sept. 1831, Rev. Samuel W. Whelpley was called to the pas- 
torate, and continued in the station three years and three months. 
He was succeeded in December, 1834, by Rev. George R. H. 
Shumway, who was soon after ordained and installed as pastor, 
and continued his labors till Oct. 14th, 1841, when he was dis- 
missed. Rev. Nathaniel W. Fisher succeeded, and was installed pas- 
tor, July 7th, 1842. He has within a short period been dismissed. 

Several seasons of refreshing have been enjoyed by this church. 
In the year 1799, known for many years afterwards as the year of 
the " Great Revival," the extensive work of grace which prevailed 
under the labors of Messrs. Williston, Bushnell, and others, com- 
menced in this church. In 1817, under the labors of Mr. Wheel- 
ock, the congregation was visited by one of the most powerful 
revivals ever known in the town. Another copious shower of 
grace passed over this region in 1824, under the labors of Mr. 
Stockton, and a large number were gathered into the church, 
some of whom are now pillars in Christ's house. A precious re- 
vival, also, was enjoyed under the ministry of Mr. Campbell, in 
1829. During the pastorate of Mr. Shumway there were two sea- 
sons of refreshing : one in the first year of his ministry, when 
about thirty were gathered into the church ; the other towards the 
close of his labors in 1831, as the result of which about one hun- 
dred were added to the church. During the winter and spring of 
1843, the Spirit of God again watered this vine, in connexion with 
the labors of the late pastor, and about sixty persons were added 
to the communion of the church. 

This church has always supported its own minister without 
foreign aid. The first house of worship erected by this congrega- 
tion was in 1811. It was fifty feet in length, and forty in width, 
with a steeple. After standing several years, it was accidentally 
burnt to the ground. In 1832, the magnificent brick edifice in 
which the congregation now worship, was erected, at an expense 
of fourteen thousand dollars. It is eighty-two feet in length, and 
fifty-two in breadth, with a steeple and bell. About one thousand 
souls are connected with this congregation. The Baptists, Metho- 
dists, and Episcopalians, have each a house of worship in the vil- 
lage. The Presbyterian congregation is by far the largest, and the 
Episcopalian the smallest in the village. 

Farmington. — This town formerly included Manchester. It was 
settled at an early period, mostly by Quakers. A church of the 
Presbyterian denomination was formed in the town as early as 
1817, which was received under the care of the Presbytery of 
Geneva, Aug. 13th, of that year. In 1825 it was reported as con- 



PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA. 



379 



sisting of eighteen members. Its name is uniformly found on the 
annual reports of the Presbytery to 1831. After that period it is 
not to be found. In every instance, with one exception, it is re- 
ported as vacant. Whether it has become extinct, is merged in 
some other church, or has changed its ecclesiastical connexion, is 
not known to the author. 

Vienna. — The village of Vienna is in the town of Phelps, and 
the history of the church is embraced in that of the church of 
Phelps till the period of its separate organization. It was organized 
May 10th, 1831, by an act of the Presbytery, consisting of sixty 
members taken from the church of Phelps. Soon after the organi- 
zation, forty members more were added. Rev. Levi Griswold was 
employed as stated supply, and officiated as such about two years, 
when he left, on account of ill health. During his ministry, God 
graciously poured out his Spirit upon the congregation, and, as the 
result, eighty-eight persons were added to the church, on profession 
of their faith. Rev. Samuel A. Allen was ordained and installed 
pastor of the church in the year 1832.' His ministry closed with 
this church in less than two years. He was succeeded by Rev. 
William L. Strong, who was installed pastor of the church, June 
3d, 1835. He was dismissed from his pastoral charge in Septem- 
ber, 1839. Rev. Lucas Hubbell was his successor. He was in- 
stalled in the pastoral office, April 15th, 1840, and continued to 
sustain the relation, and faithfully to perform its duties till his death, 
which occurred in a very sudden manner, in 1846. Mr. Hub- 
bell was succeeded by Rev. Daniel Temple, formerly a missionary 
of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 
who was installed pastor of the church, June 24th, 1847. During 
the ministry of Mr. Hubbell, about fifty members were received on 
their profession of faith. The whole number of members in June? 
1846, was one hundred and fifty-one, of whom thirty-eight were 
non-residents. This church has ever supported its own minister 
without foreign aid. The congregation have an appropriate house 
of worship, erected several years since. 

In the spring of 1840, after the dismission of Mr. Strong, twenty 
members of this church, on the plea of difference in doctrinal be- 
lief, seceded from their brethren without asking for letters of dis- 
mission, were constituted a church by the Old School Presbytery 
of Caledonia, and were taken under the care of that body. On the 
division of that Presbytery at a subsequent period, this church was 
assigned to the Presbytery of Steuben. In May, 1846, this church 
consisted of forty members, and had for its pastor Rev. Edwin H. 
Reinhart. It has an appropriate house of worship. The Methodist 
denomination have also a house of worship in the village. 

Phelps — The settlement of the town of Phelps commenced at a 



380 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



very early period, by emigrants principally from Massachusetts 
and Vermont, but some from States further south. At a very early 
period a religious society, organized according to the provisions of 
the law of the State, was formed, and, in June, 1803, this society, 
in connexion with one at Lyons, gave a call to Rev. John Lindsley 
to be their pastor. Mr. Lindsley declined the call. The next 
year, on the second day of December, Rev. Jedidiah Chapman 
organized a Presbyterian church, consisting of fourteen members, 
who engaged to set up public worship on the Sabbath. In what 
part of the town this organization took place is not known to the 
writer. It never flourished, and the church soon became extinct. 
In J 806, Rev. Howell R. Powell, a clergyman from Wales, was 
employed by the inhabitants of the place to preach to them. A 
blessing seemed to attend his preaching, and a church consisting of 
seventeen members was organized by him, August 7th, 1806. This 
church was formed on the Congregational plan, and all of its mem- 
bers, with one exception, were received on their profession of faith 
in Christ. The church became connected with the Ontario Asso- 
ciation, June 13th, 1809. In 1813, the church adopted the Presby- 
terian form of church government, and was taken under the care 
of the Presbytery of Geneva, April 21st of that year. In three 
years from its organization it numbered forty-four members ; in 1825, 
one hundred and eighty-seven ; and near this number it remained 
till 1833, at which period it reported eighty, the diminution having 
been caused by the organization of the church of Vienna. In 1846 
it reported sixty-seven members. Mr. Powell continued with the 
church as stated supply a number of years, and was succeeded by 
Rev. Ambrose Porter, who continued till 1816. The first pastor 
ragularly inducted was Rev. Charles Mosher, who was installed Sept. 
12th, 1816, and dismissed Sept. 20th, 1819. In December of that year, 
Rev. Samuel W. Brace was ordained and installed pastor ofthe church, 
and continued until Feb. 8th, 1824. He was followed by Rev. Henry 
P. Strong, who was installed Nov. 10th, 1824, and sustained the rela- 
tion of pastor till May 10th, 1831. Rev. William R. S. Betts com- 
menced laboring in this congregation in November, 1831, was 
installed in February following, and continued till April, 1834. His 
successor was Rev. Ezra Scoville, who was installed Feb. 26th, 
1838. He was dismissed, Sept. 7th, 1840, and followed by Rev. 
Ebenezer Everett, who was installed Feb. 15th, 1842, and dismissed 
Sept. 6th, 1843. Since Mr. Everett's dismission the church has 
been supplied by Rev. John R. Moser. Under the ministry of 
Mr. Brace, in 1820, '21, a powerful work of the Holy Spirit was 
witnessed, as the result of which sixty-two individuals united with 
the church. Several other seasons of refreshing have been enjoyed, 
under the ministry of Messrs. Strong, Betts, and Scoville. 

This church was assisted by the^ American Home Missionary 
Society in the support of Mr. Crabb. They have a house of wor- 



PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA. 



381 



ship, sixty feet by fifty in size, with a steeple, which was erected 
in 1804, previous to the organization of any church. It has under- 
gone one or two alterations, and is now a very convenient edifice 
for the worship of God. 

It is thought that about one fourth part of the population of this 
part of the town attend worship with the Presbyterian Church. 
There are about twenty individuals who are members of the Bap- 
tist church, and about sixteen who belong to the Methodist Church. 
A very large proportion of the community attend no public 
worship. 

Junius. — The town of Junius, as has been stated in a preceding 
article, originally comprehended a large portion of the present 
counties of Seneca and Wayne. It is now of small extent. The 
settlement was begun somewhat prior to the year 1805 by three 
brothers of the name of Southwick. These were followed by 
Heman Swift, J. Hopkins, John Dryer, Luther Redfield, Nathaniel 
French, and others, " a mixture," says a correspondent, " I should 
judge of religious and irreligious men, though generally moral." 
The church was organized in the Congregational form, in the 
autumn of 1811, by Rev. Howell R. Powell, and consisted of twenty- 
two members. In the spring of 1814, with the assistance of Rev. 
Henry Axtell, it was re-organized on the Presbyterian plan, and 
was received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, April 
20th, 1814. It was denominated the " Second Presbyterian Church 
of Junius," that at Seneca Falls being the first. In 1825, the church 
reported seventy-four members ; in 1834, one hundred, having 
admitted by profession the year previous, twenty-two. In 1846, 
the whole number was seventy-three. 

In the early period of the history of this church, Rev. William 
Stone supplied the pulpit two years ; Rev. Francis Pomeroy one 
fourth of the time for about five years ; and Rev. John C. Morgan 
one year in 1825 and 1826. Rev. Joseph Merrill took charge of 
the church and congregation in the autumn of 1827, and was in- 
stalled as pastor February 20th, 1828. The pastoral relation was 
dissolved in the spring of 1837. For two years afterwards the 
pulpit was supplied in part by Rev. Miles P. Squier, and partly by 
a licentiate of the name of Gibbs. Mr. Merrill was again employed 
in the spring of 1839, and continued to officiate as stated supply till 
the spring of 1843. Rev. George W. Grid ley commenced preach- 
ing to the congregation at the close of Mr. Merrill's labors, and 
was ordained and installed pastor, February 29th, 1844. His labors 

were terminated by death 1847. A season of revival 

was enjoyed under the ministry of Mr. Pomeroy ; also under the 
ministry of Mr. Merrill in 1831, and again in the winter of 1842-3 ; 
again in the winter of 1837-8, in connexion with the labors of Drs. 
Lansing and Hopkins of Auburn. The church were aided two 



382 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



years in the support of Mr. Merrill by the American Home Mis- 
sionary Society. They have a comfortable house of worship, fifty 
feet in length and thirty-five in breadth, erected in 1824. A con- 
siderable proportion of the inhabitants of the town are not in the 
habit of attending worship very regularly, though the greater part 
meet occasionally at least with some denomination of professing 
Christians. The Presbyterian Church is intermixed with Methodists, 
Baptists, and some Quakers. In one part of the town infidelity has 
a considerable foothold. The Presbyterian denomination is proba- 
bly as numerous as any other single denomination in the town. 

Tyre. — This town was originally a part of the town of Junius, 
and its settlement commenced as early as 1805; by three brothers 
of the name of Crane. Of its religious history the writer knows 
nothing, except that a church did exist, which, in 1837, consisted of 
thirty-one members. It was reported by the Presbytery of Geneva 
as under their care in 1836 and 1837. Since that period the 
writer finds no notice of it. Rev. Merritt S. Piatt was commis- 
sioned by the American Home Missionary Society to .labor with 
this church one year from Nov. 25th, 1835. Whether the church 
has seceded from the Presbytery or become extinct is not known 
to the writer. 

Seneca Falls. — This town was originally a part of the town of 
Junius, the part first settled and where the business of the town 
was transacted. The settlement was commenced at the falls which 
now give name to the town and village, at a very early period, by 
Col. Willhelmus Mynderse, and others from New Jersey. At a 
very early day Col. Mynderse erected a flouring establishment, and 
the place, from the color of the buildings, was known by the appel- 
lation of the " Red Mills." At what period the Presbyterian Church 
was organized is not definitely known to the writer. It is apparent 
that it was under the care of the Presbytery of Oneida, and trans- 
ferred to the Geneva Presbytery on the organization of that body 
in 1805. It was originally denominated the " First Presbyterian 
Church of Junius." In 1825, it consisted of eighty-four members. 
In 1832, it numbered two hundred and forty-three, and in 1846, one 
hundred and ninety-six. It was probably organized by Rev. Jedi- 
diah Chapman, and for some years received a share of his services 
as a missionary. Rev. John Stuart was ordained and installed as 
pastor to the church, August 24th, 1808. He was deposed from 
the office of the ministry, September 22d, 1813. Whether he con- 
tinued as pastor to the period of his deposition is not recollected by 
the writer. He was followed by Rev. Shipley Wells as stated 
supply for a year or two. June 30th, 1819, Rev. William Bacon 
was installed pastor of this church and that of Cayuga village. He 
was dismissed February 6th, 1821. Rev. Azariah G. Orton com- 



PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA. 



383 



menced labor with this church, as the writer believes, in 1823, and 
though he was not installed, continued to labor as a stated supply 
till 1834 or 1835. Rev. Wm. Gray succeeded him, and was in- 
stalled as pastor of the church, and dismissed, October 2d, 1838. 
Rev. Herman L. Vail was installed pastor, October 28th, 1840, and 
dismissed April 16th, 1843. He was succeeded by Rev. Horace 
P. Bogue, as stated supply, who still officiates in that capacity. 
During the ministry of Mr. Bacon in 1819-20, a pleasing revival 
was experienced, and about thirty members were added to the 
church. In the year 1828, twenty were reported as added to the 
church the preceding year on profession. In 1831, forty-seven, 
and in 1832, thirty-two are similarly reported. These years under 
the ministry of Mr. Orton, seem to have been peculiarly years of 
the right hand of the Most High. In the year 1840, twenty-two 
are reported as having united with the church by profession, indi- 
cating that the preceding year had been one of revival. 

This church has never required foreign aid to support its minister. 
It has a house of worship built many years since. About the year 
1832 or 1833, a number of the members of this church were dis- 
missed or withdrew, and formed a Congregational Church ; but 
what has been its destiny is not known to the writer. The Presby- 
terian Church has for many years been a strong, able church, though 
somewhat disturbed by the conflicting sentiments of the day. Be- 
sides the Presbyterians, the Episcopalians, the Methodists, and the 
Baptists, have each a house of worship. The Roman Catholics 
have also a mass-house for their meetings. 

Waterloo. — This town was originally a part of the town^ of 
Junius. At an early period a settlement, was commenced by John 
Green, afterwards called the Trip Settlement, at the place now 
known as Lundy's Corners. A small settlement also was made on 
the south side of the Seneca river named Scawas, which now con- 
stitutes a part of the village of Waterloo. • The early religious his- 
tory of this place is identified with that of Seneca Falls. A sepa- 
rate Presbyterian Church was organized in Waterloo in 1817: the 
writer believes that, it was composed principally of those who had 
been members of the church of Seneca Falls. It was received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, August 13th, 1817. 
In 1825, it numbered 110 members; in 1832, 270; in 1840, 310; 
and in 1846, 227. Rev. Aaron D. Lane was ordained and installed 
pastor of the church, March 21st, 1821. He continued in this 
station till 1834 or 1835, and after a short interval, was succeeded 
in the pastoral office by Rev. Samuel H. Gridley, the present pastor 
of the church. This church has been much favored with the dews 
of heaven since its organization. An addition of thirty-eight mem- 
bers was reported for the year 1825, but whether the result of a 
revival, or of the increase of the population of the village, is not 



384 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



known to the writer. In 1829, twenty-seven were reported as 
having been added by profession the preceding year, and in 1832, 
117 were so reported. These were the fruits of revivals enjoyed 
in the congregation. This church has always supported its own 
minister without foreign aid. They have an appropriate, and very 
respectable house of worship, which was erected in the early period 
of the history of the church. There are also in the village appro- 
priate houses of worship for the Episcopalians, the Methodists, and 
the Baptists. 

Canoga. — The village of Canoga is situated in the eastern part 
of the town of Fayette, near the Cayuga lake. A small Presbyte- 
rian church was organized here about the year 1825, and taken 
under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva. In 1828, it reported 
thirty-five members; in 1832, forty-eight; in 1840, ninety-five; 
and in 1846, 101. Rev. Richard Williams acted as stated supply 
one or two years, about the period of 1831 and 1832. With this 
exception, the church has uniformly been reported as vacant till 
after 1837. In 1840, Rev. Charles N. Mattoon is reported as 
pastor. He was dismissed May 6th, 1841. In the following year, 
Mr. Chauncey W. Cherry, a licentiate preacher, commenced labor- 
ing here, and, on the 12th day of July, 1842, was ordained and 
installed as pastor, in which relation he still remains. During the 
first year of his ministry with the church, he was under the patron- 
age of the Home Missionary Society. God blessed his labors ; a 
revival was enjoyed, bringing into the fold of Christ between 
forty and fifty hopeful converts, which strengthened the church to 
such a degree that they were able to support their pastor without 
foreign aid. They have an appropriate house of worship. This 
church was known a number of years as Fayette Second Church. 

Fayette. — This town was originally called Washington, but in 
1808 the name was changed to Fayette. Its settlement commenced 
in 1789. A large proportion of the inhabitants are Germans, emi- 
grants from Pennsylvania. These generally have their own reli- 
gious organizations, and to a great degree constitute a community 
by themselves. The other early inhabitants were mostly from 
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the southern counties of New York. 
A Presbyterian church was organized and taken under the care of 
the Presbytery of Geneva, probably in 1824. It is reported for 
the first time in 1825. It was then reported as vacant. No report 
of the number of members was made till 1826. It then numbered 
sixty-one members, thirty-seven having been received within the 
year. In 1828 it reported eighty members. From that period the 
number diminished, and in 1846 the whole number was only fifty- 
two. In 1825, or the beginning of the next year, Rev. Isaac Flag- 
ler was constituted pastor of the church, and remained such about 



PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA. 



385 



three years. During his ministry the church was considerably in- 
creased in the number of its members, nearly sixty being added. 
How large a proportion of these were received on profession is, 
not known. From the period of Mr. Flagler's dismission till i834 
the church is uniformly reported vacant, although several ministers 
preached in the congregation for short periods. Near the com- 
mencement of the year 1834, Rev. Adams W. Piatt was engaged as 
stated supply, and continued about two years and a half. After him 
Rev. Oren Catlin supplied for a season. Rev. Alanson Scofield com- 
menced preaching to the congregation towards the latter part of the 
year 1837, and was ordained and installed pastor of the church, 
March 7th, 1838. He was dismissed Sept. 3d, 1845. In the support 
of Messrs. Flagler, Piatt, and Scofield, the church has been aided by 
the American Home Missionary Society. They have an appropriate 
house of worship, which was erected some years since. In the 
annual reports of the Presbytery, this church is sometimes denomi- 
nated Fayette, sometimes Fayette first church, and sometimes 
West Fayette. 

Geneva. — Of the early settlement of the village of Geneva, we 
have spoken in another place. The mass of the first inhabitants of 
this village were not distinguished for a regard for religion and its 
institutions, but the contrary. Many vices predominated to a very 
great extent, yet in 1798, on the sixteenth day of July, a religious 
Society under the general law of the State was formed by the 
adult male inhabitants of the village and the vicinity. This was 
the first religious society formed in the place, and was designed to 
be connected with a church of the Presbyterian order. The trus- 
tees elected for the Society were Oliver Whitmore, Elijah Wilder, 
Septimus Evans, Ezra Patterson, Samuel Latta, William Smith, 
Jun., and Polydore B. Wisner, none of whom are now living. At 
this period the population of the village, probably, did not exceed 
thirty families. In 1800, Rev. Jedidiah Chapman, under an ap- 
pointment from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, 
located his family in the village of Geneva, and was employed by 
the inhabitants to labor with them one half of the time, while the 
remaining half was employed in missionary service in the destitute 
places around. The same year Mr. Chapman organized a Presby- 
terian church in the village. As the original records are lost, it is 
not known of what number of members the church was composed. 
It is supposed, however, that the number was less than twenty, and 
several of these lived at a considerable distance from the village. 
Oliver Whitmore, Elijah Wilder, and Seth Stanley, were constituted 
ruling elders. This church was taken under the care of the Pres- 
bytery of Oneida, and on the division of that body was assigned to 
the Presbytery of Geneva. In 1806 the church was reported as 
vacant and unable to support a pastor. In 1825 the church num- 

25 



386 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



bered two hundred and seventy-two members, and the next year 
four hundred and seven. In 1831 the number was five hundred and 
sixty-seven ; in 1843, six hundred and fifty-two ; and in 1846, six 
hundred and five. 

After the organization of the church about twelve years elapsed 
before a regular pastor w T as called. For a large proportion of this 
period Mr. Chapman occupied the pulpit one half of the time, and 
employed in missionary labor the other part. On the 12th of July, 
1812, Mr. Chapman was installed pastor of this church, and at the 
same time Rev. Henry Axtell was ordained and installed co-pastor 
with him. Mr. Chapman died May 22d, 1813, after a life of much 
usefulness, and greatly beloved and respected. He was at the 
time of his death in the 73d year of his age. Dr. Axtell continued 
pastor of the congregation until his death, which occurred Feb. 11th, 
1829, when he was forty-five years of age. During the sixteen 
years of his ministry, there were two special seasons of revival ; 
the first in 1819, when nearly one hundred were added to the 
church; the other in 1825, when a still larger number took the 
vows of God upon them. Rev. Eliakim Phelps, D.D., the successor 
of Dr. Axtell, was installed pastor of the church, Feb. 11th, 1830, 
and was dismissed, Sept. 15th, 1835. During his ministry there 
was one powerful revival of religion, as the result of which more 
than one hundred members were added to the church, and the 
whole number added during his ministry was three hundred and 
twenty-seven, of whom two hundred were by examination. Rev. 
Philip C. Hay, D.D., was installed pastor, Feb. 3d, 1836, and was 
dismissed, April 9th, 1846. During his ministry up to February, 
1846, the additions to the church were five hundred and thirty-eight, 
of which two hundred and seventy-six were received on their 
profession of faith. Rev. William Hogarth was installed pastor of 
this church, Dec. 3d, 1846, and is the present pastor. 

This congregation erected a house of worship previous to the 
settlement of the first pastors, which, at that period, was considered 
large and • elegant. It has since been removed, and replaced by 
their present spacious, commodious, and elegant edifice. This 
church may be considered as the parent of several others. The 
Presbyterian Church of Castleton was derived from it. The 
Reformed Dutch Church of Geneva was to a considerable extent 
constituted of members of this church, and at a later period a 
Congregational Church has been organized from it. The Episco- 
palians have a magnificent house of worship in this village. The 
Reformed Dutch and the Methodist denominations have houses 
which are large and elegant. The Associate Reformed, the Baptist, 
and the African Baptist churches, have houses which are appropriate 
and commodious. Besides these the Universalists have a house for 
meeting, and the Roman Catholics have a mass-house. 



PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA. 



387 



Castleton. — This village is situated in the town of Seneca, and 
derives its name from an Indian fortification located on the ground 
in former time, from which the place, by the early white inhabitants, 
was denominated the Old Castle, now Castleton. It was settled 
contemporaneously with the other parts of the town of Seneca. 
Its religious history is involved in that of Geneva until 1828. 
Several of the original members of the Church of Geneva, and 
two of its three elders, resided in this place. In 1828, a Presbyte- 
rian Church consisting of nineteen members was organized here. 
The most of these were taken from the church of Geneva. The 
church, soon after its organization, was taken under the care of the 
Presbytery of Geneva. In 1829, it reported thirty members ; in 
1S32, one hundred and forty- six ; and in 1843, one hundred and 
seven. Rev. Stephen Porter, under the patronage of the American 
Home Missionary Society, commenced laboring here in the month 
of August, 1828, previous to the organization of the church. His 
labors as stated supply were continued for five years. In 1831-2, 
a blessed work of the Spirit was wrought, as the result of which 
about one hundred members were added to the church by profes- 
sion. Rev. Oren Catlin succeeded Mr. Porter, and was installed 
as pastor of the church, and continued two or three years, after 
which Mr. Porter was again employed as stated supply one or two 
years. He was succeeded by Rev. George C. Hyde, and he by 
Rev. Benjamin Russell, who yet remains. The Church were aided 
by the American Home Missionary Society in the support of Mr. 
Porter five years ; since that period they have supported their own 
minister without foreign aid. They have an appropriate house of 
worship, which was erected in 1829 or 1830. 

Hopewell. — The present towns of Hopewell and Gorham were, 
in 1801, organized as a town by the name of Easton. In 1806, 
the name was changed to Lincoln, and in 1807 to Gorham. In 
1824 or '25 the town was divided, and the northern section named 
Hopewell. The settlement of this town commenced at a very 
early period, and a Presbyterian church was organized at an early 
date, probably by Rev. Jedidiah Chapman, soon after his estab- 
lishment at Geneva. In his journal under date of August 7th, 1803, 
he speaks of administering the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to 
the church in this place. The church must have been connected 
with the Presbytery of Oneida, as on the organization of the Pres- 
bytery of Geneva, it appears, without any act of reception, to 
have belonged to that body. At the time of the organization the 
number of members was small. In 1825, it had increased to one 
hundred; in 1828, it reported one hundred and eight; and the 
next year, only forty-four. This change was in consequence of a 
division of the church by the organization of a separate one in 
Gorham. In 1832, the church reported sixty-four members added 



388 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



within a year by profession, making the whole number one hun- 
dred and four. Two years afterwards the whole number was one 
hundred and thirty-four, forty-three more having been added by 
profession. Since that period the number has diminished, so that, 
in 1846, it w r as only ninety-two. For some years after the or- 
ganization of the church it did not enjoy stated preaching. The 
labor of Mr. Chapman, or some other missionary, for an occasional 
Sabbath, was nearly the amount of ministerial help experienced. 
Still the writer believes that stated public worship on the Sabbath 
was maintained. In 1804, Rev. Samuel Leacock came into the 
town, and was engaged as a stated supply for one year, but pre- 
vious to the expiration of the year his labors 'were terminated by his 
decease. Rev. Eliphalet B. Coleman, then a licentiate, officiated 
as stated supply for a season, in 1807, Rev. Joseph Merrill com- 
menced ministering to this church in connexion with that of Rush- 
ville the latter part of the year 1808, and in June of the next year 
was installed as pastor of the two churches. Mr. Merrill officiated 
as pastor of both churches till May 1st, 1821, when he was dis- 
missed from his charge of the church in Middlesex, and devoted 
his whole labors to the church in Hopewell, till 1827, when he 
was dismissed from his pastoral charge. Soon after Mr. Merrill's 
dismission the church was divided, and thereby the church of 
Hopewell was considerably weakened. Rev. Isaac Flagler was 
employed as a stated supply in the latter part of the year 1828, 
and in this relation he continued about three yeras. After his 
departure for a period the church was supplied irregularly for 
some time, and then enjoyed for a season the labors of Rev. 
Samuel Howe, as pastor. In 1837 and 1840, it is reported as 
vacant, and in 1843, as supplied by Rev. John W. Wood. In 
August, 1844, Rev. Isaac Flagler commenced ministering to the 
church, and was installed as pastor, April 16th, 1845. In this 
relation he still continues. 

During the period of Mr. Merrill's ministry there was a gradual 
increase in the number of the members of the church from year to 
year, and at one time at least a considerable revival. The years 
1831 and '32 were years in which the greatest accessions were 
made to the church. These were the result of the labors of 
evangelists connected with protracted meetings, and about one 
hundred were added to the church. 

This church has been assisted by the American Home Mission- 
ary Society in the support of Mr. Flagler, both when he officiated 
some years since as a stated supply, and since his installation as 
pastor of the church. They have an appropriate house of worship. 

Chapinsville. — This is a small village on the outlet of the Canan- 
daigua lake, in the town of Hopewell, near its north-west corner. 
At an early period of the history of the Genesee country, the 



PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA. 



389 



Messrs. Chapin of Canandaigua erected mills on this spot, it being 
the nearest place to Canandaigua where a sufficient water-power 
existed. Hence the place was formerly known by the appellation 
of Chapins' Mills. Latterly it has been called Chapinsville. In 
consequence of the water-power there existing, a considerable 
village has grown up. A small church of the Congregational 
order, as the writer believes, was formed here a number of years 
since. It would seem that it has been connected with the Presby- 
tery of Geneva, as its name is found in their reports to the General 
Assembly for 1836 and 1837. Why it is not found in later reports, 
is not known to the writer. In 1837 it consisted of forty-eight 
members. What ministerial aid was enjoyed by the church pre- 
vious to 1S33. the writer knows not. In February of that year, 
Rev. Isaac Flagler was employed as a stated laborer among them, 
and continued four years. He was succeeded by Rev. Isaac 
Crabb, who continued two or three years. In 1841, Rev. G. W. 
Lane labored with them for a season, and in November was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. J. B. Wilson, who continued two years. In the 
support of these ministers the church was aided by the American 
Home Missionary Society. In their reports to the Society, some 
of them at times speak of hopeful conversions, but of no extensive 
revival. The history of the church since 1842 is wholly unknown 
to the writer. They have an appropriate house of worship, erected 
a number of years since. 

Rushville. — This village is situated partly in the town of 
Gorham, and partly in the town of Middlesex. The latter 
town, including also the town of Potter, was originally named 
Augusta. The name was changed to Middlesex in 1808. It 
was settled at an early period by emigrants mostly from Massa- 
chusetts, but some from Rhode Island and Connecticut. Dea- 
cons Loomis and French, still living, were among the early 
settlers. Public worship on the Sabbath was set up very soon 
after the settlement commenced, in a log school-house, where the 
people assembled and worshipped God, by prayer and singing, 
reading the word of God and printed sermons. They were occa- 
sionally visited by a missionary. A church, of the Congregational 
order, consisting of fifteen members, was organized by Rev. Jedi- 
diah Chapman, Nov. 28th, 1802, and was denominated the " First 
Congregational Church of Augusta and Gorham." The church 
became connected with the Ontario Association, June 14th, 1803, 
and continued in this connexion till the dissolution of the Associa- 
tion in 1813. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of 
Geneva, on what was denominated the accommodating plan, April 
19th, 1814. In this connexion it still continues. This church has 
been a highly favored church. In 1825, it numbered one hundred 
and sixty-two members ; in 1834, two hundred and fifteen; and, 



390 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



in 1846, two hundred and fifty-two. The members of the church 
and congregation reside, some in the town of Gorham, some in the 
town of Middlesex, and some in the town of Potter. All the ori- 
ginal members had previously been members of churches in the 
places from which they emigrated. Soon after the organization of 
the church, Rev. Ahijah Warren commenced laboring with them 
as a stated supply, and continued nearly one year. After him, 
Rev. Reuben Parmele labored for a season. Rev. Joseph Merrill 
was installed, by an ecclesiastical council, pastor of this church 
and that of Hopewell, July 9th, 1809, and continued in the pastor- 
ate of both churches till 1821. At that period each church felt 
itself able to support a minister for the whole of the time. Each 
wished to retain Mr. Merrill, and, though each was equally dear 
to him, yet some circumstances determined him to continue with 
the church of Hopewell. Accordingly, on the first day of May, 
1821, his pastoral relation to the church of Rushville was dissolved, 
and the next day Rev. David Page was ordained and installed 
pastor in his stead. Mr. Page continued about four years, and was 
dismissed on his own request. Rev. Joseph Brackett soon after 
became the pastor of the church, and continued as such till his 
death, which occurred Sept. 24th, 1832. Rev. Henry P. Strong 
succeeded him as pastor, and continued with them a little more 
than two years, when death removed him from his pastoral charge. 
Rev. Maltby Gelston was his successor. He was installed in the 
month of May, 1836, and still continues in the pastoral office. 

The church has been blessed under all its pastors, with revivals 
of religion to some extent. There was one revival of great power 
and extent in Mr. Merrill's day, as the fruits of which one hundred 
or more united with the church, and nearly all remained steadfast in 
their profession. Under Mr. Page's ministry there was a season 
of religious interest, in which numbers were brought into the church, 
but time has shown that many of these supposed conversions were 
spurious. Under Mr. Brackett there was a revival of consider- 
able interest, and frequent seasons when some few were gathered 
into the church. Under Mr. Strong's ministry, there was a season 
of revival and ingathering into the kingdom. Under the labors of 
Mr. Gelston, there has been, at different times, some interest on the 
subject of the soul's salvation, and a few gathered into the church. 
There has also been one general revival, as the fruits of which 
more than forty were added to the church. 

This church has a house of worship, a brick edifice, sixty-four 
feet in length, and forty-four in width, erected in 1817. The 
Methodist denomination have a house of worship, and constitute a 
body of considerable strength. It is thought that two-thirds of the 
population attend on a preached gospel, of whom the largest part 
in the village attend with the Presbyterian church. 



PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA. 



391 



Gorham. — This church has its present location in the village of 
Bethel, which is situated on Flint Creek, in the town of Gorham, 
near its eastern line. The Presbyterian church was organized 
Feb.26th, 1828, by Rev.Messrs. Henry Axtell, Henry P. Strong, and 
Ansel D. Eddy. It was composed of twenty-four members, taken 
from the church of Hopewell for the purpose, of whom eight were 
males and sixteen females. The church, soon after its organization, 
was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva. In 1832, 
it consisted of one hundred and two members ; in 1836, it number- 
ed one hundred and twenty-eight ; and in 1846, sixty-eight. From 
the period of its organization till 1830, the church was temporarily 
supplied by different individuals. Rev. Chester Hinman supplied 
one year under the patronage of the American Home Missionary 
Society. From the beginning of 1830 to the close of 1839, Rev. 
Flavel S. Gaylord was pastor. From July, 1841, Rev. HoseaKit- 
tredge supplied about one year. He was succeeded by Rev. 
Alva Lilly, for two years, who was followed by Rev. Charles Mer- 
win, who was installed pastor of the church, April 16th, 1845, and 
dismissed from his charge, May 6th, 1846. Rev. Robert Finley 
succeeded Mr. Merwin as a stated supply for one year, and was 
followed by Rev. William Rowlatt, for a short season. The church 
has been aided in the support of most of its ministers, by the 
American Home Missionary Society. In 1831, under the ministry 
of Mr. Gaylord, a revival was enjoyed, as the fruits of which about 
forty individuals were added to the church. A house of worship 
was built some years since, about four miles distant from the vil- 
lage of Bethel, in a north-westerly direction. In 1843, a new edi- 
fice was erected in the village, to which the meetings were re- 
moved. This removal was dissatisfactory to a part of the church 
and congregation, who withdrew, and were organized as a separate 
church and congregation, on the Reformed Dutch platform, and 
erected for themselves a house of worship at a place called Reed's 
Corners, in the north-western part of the town of Gorham. This 
circumstance considerably diminished the number of members in 
the church, and detracted from its ability to support the stated 
ministry of the gospel. But a small proportion of the population 
attend worship with the Presbyterian church. Its members live 
intermixed with those of the Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, Re- 
formed Dutch, and Associate Reformed churches. The Baptists 
and Methodists have appropriate houses of worship in the village. 

Romulus. — This town was settled at an early period by emi- 
grants, mostly from New Jersey and Pennsylvania, numbers of 
whom were of German and Low Dutch origin. At what period 
the Presbyterian church was organized is not known to the writer. 
Rev. Jedicliah Chapman in his missionary journal, under date of 
August 20th, 1803, speaks of preaching in this place, and assisting 



392 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



the Session in examining candidates for admission to the church. 
It is probable that the church was organized a short season pre- 
vious to this date by Mr. Chapman. Of what number of members 
it was composed at any period prior to 1825, the writer is igno- 
rant. At that date it numbered two hundred and thirty-eight 
members. In 1832 it was increased to three hundred and thirty- 
six, and in 1843 had fallen to two hundred and sixty-nine. This 
church was received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, 
at the first meeting of that body, Sept. 17th, 1805. Rev. Charles 
Mosher was ordained and installed pastor of the church, August 
19th, 1807. He continued in this relation somewhat more than 
seven years, and was dismissed, Oct. 17th, 1814. Rev. Moses 
Young succeeded him in the pastoral office, and was ordained and 
installed, March 8th, 1815. In the faithful and successful per- 
formance of the duties of his office Mr. Young continued till death 
closed his labors in 1824 or '5. Rev. Morris Barton was the next 
pastor of the church. He was ordained and installed in a short 
period after the death of Mr. Young, and continued until Feb. 4th, 
1846, a period of about twenty years. Rev. Edward Lord was 
ordained and installed as his successor in the pastoral office in 
October, 1847. This church has repeatedly been visited with the 
showers of the Holy Spirit. In 1816 and in 1823, under the minis- 
try of Mr. Young, blessed seasons of revival were enjoyed. In 
the latter instance, between eighty and ninety were added to the 
church. Under the ministry of Mr. Barton several such seasons 
were experienced. For several successive years in the early pe- 
riod of his ministry, there were frequent accessions to the church 
from the w r orld. In 1832, eighty-nine were reported as added 
to the church on their profession of faith, and in 1837, fifty-eight 
were thus added. 

This church has ever supported its own ministers without 
foreign aid. A house of worship was erected many years ago, 
which some years since was abandoned, and a new and commo- 
dious one erected in a more eligible location. 

Ovid. — The town of Ovid formerly included the present town 
of that name, together with Lodi and Covert. The settlement of 
it commenced about the year 1790 or '91, by immigrants from 
New Jersey, and parts of Pennsylvania adjacent to New Jersey. 
Many of them were of Dutch origin. After a season they became 
somewhat intermixed with immigrants from the Eastern States 
and Eastern New York. How soon the public worship of God 
was established, and at what period a Presbyterian church was 
organized, are circumstances not known to the writer. In the year 
1800, Rev. John Lindsley was appointed by the General Assem- 
bly a missionary for four months, with special directions to visit the 
town of Ovid. It is not improbable that a church was organized 



PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA. 



393 



by him on this mission, which subsequently became connected 
with the Presbytery of Oneida, and afterwards was transferred 
to the Presbytery of Geneva. Mr. Lindsley became pastor of this 
church, but at what period is not known to the writer. He was 
dismissed Nov. 5th, 1805. The church, on its request, was dis- 
missed from its connexion with the Presbytery of Geneva, to join 
the Classis of the Reformed Dutch Church. This was the original 
Presbyterian church of Ovid. The author believes that its general 
place of meeting and centre of operation was at or near the place 
of worship in the present town of Covert, of the church which 
styles itself the " True Reformed Dutch Church," and that the 
original church has succession in this church. 

The present "First Presbyterian Church of Ovid," is of later ori- 
gin. At a meeting of the Presbytery of Oneida, held at Geneva, 
June 28th, 1803, an application was made to the Presbytery for a 
commission to form a new church in the north-western part of the 
town of Ovid, a Society organized according to the civil law being 
then already constituted. The Presbytery appointed Rev. Jedi- 
diah Chapman to go to Ovid and organize the church. Accordingly 
on the tenth day of July, 1803, Mr. Chapman organized a Presby- 
terian church consisting of twenty members, most of whom, if not 
all, were taken from the original church of Ovid. This church was 
taken under the care of the Presbytery of Oneida, and at the divi- 
sion of that Presbytery was assigned to the Presbytery of Geneva. 
In 1810 the number of members had increased from twenty to 
seventy-three. In 1825 it numbered one hundred and seventy-one ; 
in 1832, two hundred and twenty ; in 1843, two hundred and eighty- 
three ; and in 1846, two hundred and seventy-nine. The church at 
its organization was denominated the Seneca Church, and by that 
appellation it was known for a number of years. In 1817 it adopted 
the style of the "First Presbyterian Church of Ovid." What minis- 
terial assistance this church enjoyed previous to 1811, is not known 
to the writer. On the seventeenth day of April, of that year, Rev. 
William Clark was installed pastor of this church, in connexion with 
that of Hector, with the understanding that three quarters of his 
time was to be devoted to Ovid, and one quarter to Hector. Mr. 
Clark was dismissed from Ovid August 9th, 1815, and soon after 
from Hector. Rev. Stephen Porter was installed pastor of the two 
churches Sept. 10th, 1816, to divide his labors between them in the 
same proportion as Mr. Clark had done. He was dismissed from 
his charge of the church of Hector Sept. 6th, 1820, and from that 
period till Sept. 5th, 1822, his whole time was devoted to the church 
of Ovid. At the last mentioned date, the relation between him and 
the church was dissolved. After an interval of about one year, 
Rev. Thomas Lounsbury, D.D., was ordained and installed pastor 
of this church, and has sustained the relation to the present time, 



394 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



daring a period of more than twenty-four years, a very unusual 
circumstance in the history of Western New York. 

During the ministry of Messrs. Clark and Porter, it is not known 
to the writer that any extensive work of grace was wrought. There 
were seasons of more than special interest, in which souls were 
converted and additions made to the church. The number of mem- 
bers at the period of Mr. Porter's dismission, was 141. Under the 
ministry of Dr. Lounsbury the church has enjoyed several very 
precious seasons of revival, as in 1824, '27, '30, '31, '32, '36, and 
'42. During these seasons of visitation, from ten to more than fifty 
were added to the church. This church has always supported 
its own pastor without foreign aid. 

While Mr. Porter was pastor, the congregation built a house of 
worship, which at the time was considered superior to any in the 
region, but which of late years has become considerably dilapidated, 
and not being in a proper location, the congregation have the year 
past (1847) erected anew, spacious, and elegant one in a very com- 
manding location. 

There are now within the proper limits of this congregation, four 
Christian churches : the First Presbyterian Church of Ovid, — the 
Methodist Episcopal Church of Ovid, — the Methodist Episcopal 
Church of Sheldrake, — and the Baptist Church of Scott's Corners. 
Intermingled with the dwellers in Ovid proper, are many members 
of the Reformed Dutch Churches of Lodi and Farmerville, and of 
the old, or as they call themselves, the True Dutch Church, which 
is located about equi-distant between Lodi and Farmerville. 

West Dresden. — This village is situated on the western bank of 
the Seneca lake, at the mouth of the outlet of the Crooked lake, in 
the town of Benton. A Presbyterian Church consisting of eight 
members taken from the church of Benton, was organized here in 
1830, and taken under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva. In 
1843, it consisted of fifty-eight members. Since that period it has 
declined. Several ministers have labored here under the patronage 
of the American Home Missionary Society, the church never having 
been able to support a minister without aid. Rev. William Todd, at 
the time of the organization of the church, and for a year or two 
afterwards, labored as a stated supply, and left the place to go on 
a foreign mission. Under his labors, some measure of divine influ- 
ence was enjoyed, and an accession made to the church. Rev. 
Linus W. Billington, Rev. William B. Worden, and Rev. George 
T. Everest, have severally been stated supplies. Under Mr. 
Everest's ministry, a measure of revival was felt, and a small num- 
ber were added to the church. But adverse influences have ope- 
rated, and the church has been for several years without any stated 
preaching, and is reduced to a very low state. They have a house 
of worship which was erected in 1834. 



PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA. 



395 



Bellona. — This village is situated in the north-eastern part of the 
town of Benton. This town, including the present town of Milo, 
was set off from Jerusalem in 1803, and constituted a town by the 
name of Vernon. In 1808, the name was changed to Snell, and in 
1810 again changed to Beaton. Since that period it has been 
divided and the town of Milo detached from it. The settlement of 
the town commenced about the year 1789. Missionaries sometimes 
visited this place and preached a sermon, or perhaps spent a Sab- 
bath, but no stated public worship of the Presbyterian denomination 
was established before the year 1802. About this period Mr. 
Stephen Whitaker made efforts to establish prayer meetings and 
public worship on the Sabbath, persuading the people to meet and 
read sermons. He succeeded in forming a nucleus around which 
a religious influence clustered, and increased until Nov. 7th, 1809, 
when a Presbyterian Church, consisting of sixteen members, was 
formed by Rev. John Lindsley, a missionary. Stephen Whitaker, 
John Hall, and Solomon Couch, were chosen, and ordained ruling 
elders. The church was taken under the care of the Presbytery 
of Geneva, Sept. 19th, 1811. In 1825, it numbered fifty-five mem- 
bers ; in 1832, one hundred and twenty-five ; in 1843, one hundred 
and seventy-nine ; and in 1846, one hundred and sixty-eight. Until 
1820 the church had no pastor or stated supply. They had only 
the occasional assistance of missionaries and others for a Sabbath, 
or, at most, for a short season. But on the nineteenth day of Sep- 
tember, 1820, Rev. Richard Williams was installed pastor of the 
church, and continued his labors, half of the time in a log dwelling- 
house near the spot where the church was afterwards erected, and 
the other half of the time in a dilapidated school-house in the village 
of Pennyan, until Feb. 19th, 1825, when he was dismissed from 
his pastoral charge. After Mr. Williams' dismission, Rev. Alfred 
E. Campbell supplied about one year and a half. Rev. William 
Todd (since missionary to India) supplied one year, and was then 
installed pastor of the church. He was dismissed from his pastoral 
charge in February, 1830. Rev. Stalham Clary succeeded him as 
stated supply, commencing his labors about the first of May, 1830, 
and continuing them till his decease, Nov. 25th, 1831. The next 
spring, Rev. M. Carpenter commenced laboring as a stated supply, 
and continued one year. Rev. Mr. Ingersol succeeded, and con- 
tinued six months. He was followed by Rev. William Johnson, 
who continued until the summer of 1837. Rev. William Backus 
succeeded, and continued until the autumn of 1839. Rev. Alfred 
Eddy commenced labor in the congregation Dec. 1st, 1839, was 
installed pastor Feb. 17th, 1841, and still sustains that relation. 

In 1825, the church experienced a refreshing from the presence 
of the Lord, and a goodly number was added to the church. In 
the spring of 1831, the Lord again poured out his Spirit in copious 
measure, and about thirty were added to the church by profession. 



396 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Again, in the autumn of 1837, God visited this church, and twenty- 
three were added to its number. The spring of 1840 was also 
memorable for the marks of the divine goodness, and forty-two 
united with the church. Seasons of more than ordinary serious- 
ness have since transpired, by which forty or fifty have been led to 
a public profession of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

This church has always supported its own ministers without 
foreign aid. In 1824 the congregation erected a house of worship, 
four miles south of Bellona, in the eastern part of the town, and 
worshipped there until 1838, when they purchased the edifice in 
the village of Bellona, belonging to the Reformed Dutch Church, 
which continues as their place of worship. From this church two 
others have emanated — the church of Pennyan, and the church of 
West Dresden. The Methodist denomination have a commodious 
house of worship in the village of Bellona. 

Pennyan. — This village is situated in the town of Milo, formerly 
a part of the town of Benton, on the outlet of the Crooked Lake. 
The settlement of the place was commenced at a quite early period, 
but did not make much progress for a number of years. The name, 
Pennyan, is derived from the circumstance that the first settlers 
were composed of about an equal number of Pennsylvanians and 
Yankees. The village for many years bore the character of a 
very irreligious place, though it is now one of the most respectable 
villages in Western New York. For many years no stated public 
worship was maintained in the village, and very little occasional 
preaching, except by a wicked Universalist, who exercised a con- 
siderable influence in the community. At as late a period as June 
20th, 1819, the author of this work preached in a dilapidated 
, school-house in the village of Pennyan, and administered the sacra- 
ment of the Lord's Supper to the church of Benton. At that time 
there were two females resident in the village, who were members 
of the Presbyterian church ; but no male members within one mile. 
The author was informed that there was one male professor of the 
Baptist denomination, but none of any other evangelical denomina- 
tion, who resided in the village. The Sabbath was to a very great 
extent a day for business, pastime, and tavern-haunting. In view 
of the immorality prevailing, and with a wish to counteract its in- 
fluence, an individual not a professor of religion, about the period 
of 1818 or 1819, set up meetings on the Sabbath day, by reading a 
sermon to the assembly, and uniting other devotional exercise 
whenever any male professor of religion was present. About the 
same time a Sabbath school was instituted by a pious lady, and some 
desire for a better order of things was manifested in the commu- 
nity. In the summer of 1820, Rev. Richard Williams was employed 
to preach in the congregation of Benton, and was installed pastor, 
Sept. 19th of that year. The meetings on the Sabbath were held 



PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA. 



397 



alternately in the town of Benton, and at the village of Pennyan in 
the school-house before mentioned. At this period the number of 
professors of the Presbyterian order in the village of Pennyan and 
its immediate vicinity was small. They were connected with the 
church of Benton. From this period, however, the number was 
increased, and, on the fifth day of February, 1823, thirty-eight 
members of the church of Benton were by an Act of the Presby- 
tery set off as a separate church, to meet in the village of Pennyan 
for a full organization on the third Tuesday of that month. On 
the day appointed, a full organization was effected, and the church 
was enrolled as a church under the care of the Presbytery of Ge- 
neva, Sept. 2d, 1823. In 1815, it numbered forty-eight members; 
in 1831, ninety-eight ; in 1832, two hundred and two; in 1840, 
two hundred and twenty-nine ; and in 1846, two hundred and 
nineteen. 

For a season after the organization of the church Mr. Williams 
continued to officiate as stated supply. Some others for short 
periods occupied the place till 1828. About this period Rev. 
Chauncey Eddy was employed to supply the pulpit, and was in due 
time installed as pastor of the church, a relation which he sustain- 
ed till some time in the year 1831, when he was dismissed from 
his pastoral charge. He was succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. 
Stephen Crosby, who continued about four years. The church 
was then for a short season vacant. Rev. Ovid Miner was next 
installed pastor of the church, but was dismissed, Feb. 17th, 1841. 
On the eighth day of June, of the same year, Rev. James Richards 
was installed pastor of the church, and continued in that station 
till the latter part of the year 1847, when the relation w 7 as dis- 
solved. He was succeeded by Rev. William W. Robinson, who 
was ordained and installed pastor of the church in the spring of 
1848. Several noticeable seasons of revival have been enjoyed by 
this church. In 1827, thirty-four members were reported as hav- 
ing been added to the church on profession, the preceding year ; 
in 1832, one hundred and fourteen; and, in 1843, forty-eight are 
reported as having been so added. These were periods of blessed 
outpourings of the Spirit on the congregation and village. 

The church has a house of worship which was erected during 
the period of Mr. Williams' ministry, and has since been re- 
modelled and enlarged. It is now an elegant and commodious 
place of worship, and will conveniently accommodate a congre- 
gation of seven or eight hundred worshippers. This church has 
always supported its own pastors without foreign aid. 

The dismission of Mr. Miner was the result of a dissatisfaction 
with his views and measures. Mr. Miner harmonized with the 
Oberlin School in his doctrinal views and measures, and very fully 
identified himself with the ultra-abolitionists. This gave dissatis- 
faction to the majority of the church, and caused his dismission. 



398 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



A considerable minority of the church sympathized with Mr. 
Miner, seceded from their brethren, and were formed into an in- 
dependent Congregational church. They employed Mr. Miner 
as their minister, and erected a large and elegant bouse of worship. 
Mr. Miner continued to minister to them for some years. He has 
now left them, and Mr. Hawley has been ordained, and installed 
pastor of the church. Since the division both congregations have 
greatly increased in numbers, and there has been, particularly in 
the Presbyterian church, since the ordination of Mr. Robinson, a 
blessed effusion of the Holy Spirit. 

Besides the Presbyterian and Congregational churches, the 
Baptists, the Episcopal Methodists, and the Episcopalians, have 
organized churches and commodious houses of worship. The 
Wesleyan Methodists also have an organized Society, and a build- 
ing in which they meet for worship. Most of the Societies are 
large, and the great body of the people in the village and its 
vicinity attend some place of worship on the Lord's day. 

Branchport. — This village is situated in the town of Jerusalem, 
at the head of the west branch of the Crooked Lake. It is of com- 
paratively recent origin. The town of Jerusalem was, at a very 
early period, settled by the followers of the late Jemima Wilkin- 
son, respecting whom it may, perhaps, be a matter of doubt, whether 
she was a gross impostor or a mad enthusiast. For a season she 
had a considerable number of followers, but the connexion is now 
entirely broken up and dissolved. For a considerable period hers 
was almost the only form of religious worship practised in the town 
of Jerusalem. The great mass of the population disregarded the 
Sabbath, and were irreligious in their habits of living. About the, 
year 1829 or '30, Mr. James Rowlette, a young gentleman from 
Ireland^ of respectable education and hopeful piety, came into the 
town and set up public worship on the Lord's day. His exertions 
were attended with a measure of success. In 1831, Mr. Rowlette 
was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of Bath, and 
the next year ordained an evangelist. He continued his labors 
with the people of Jerusalem, and a Presbyterian church was 
organized in the little village of Branchport in 1831 or 1832, as the 
result of his ministrations. Over this church Mr. Rowlette was 
installed as its pastor and continued till 1836, when the pastoral 
relation was dissolved. As stated supplies, Rev. Robert L. Porter, 
Rev. Lewis Hamilton, Rev. John C. Morgan, and Rev. Samuel 
Porter, severally officiated for> short periods. Mr. R. L. Porter's 
ministrations continued but five months. Sickness arrested him in 
his hopeful career, and death terminated his labors on earth, at the 
very commencement of his course of ministerial usefulness. He 
w r as a young man of ardent and intelligent piety, and high hopes 
were entertained that he would become a burning and a shining 



PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA. 



399 



light in the candlestick of the Lord. Rev. Horace Fraser was 
ordained and installed pastor of the church, July 12th, 1842. The 
relation was dissolved Sept. 3d, 1845. He was succeeded for a 
season by Rev. L. M. McGlashan, but the church is now (1848) 
vacant. 

This church has always been small and weak, and has never 
been able to support a minister without aid from the American 
Home Missionary Society. In 1836, it reported fifty members in 
communion, and in 1843, fifty-four. Its number, at the present 
time, is not, probably, increased. It has a good house of worship 
erected several years since. The Baptist Church has also a house 
of worship in the village. 

Pontiac. — This church has its location in the State of Michigan. 
The town of Pontiac was settled, in a considerable degree, by emi- 
grants from Western New York, particularly from the town of 
Ovid and its vicinity. A number of them were members of Pres- 
byterian churches in New York. A Presbyterian church was soon 
organized after their arrival in Michigan, and as no Presbytery 
was as yet organized in the State of Michigan, the church put them- 
selves under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva. This occurred, 
probably, in 1824. In 1825, the church is reported as consisting 
of twenty-nine members. In 1827, it consisted of fifty-four. About 
this period it was dismissed from the Presbytery of Geneva to 
unite with a Presbytery in the State of Michigan. In 1846, it was 
connected with the Presbytery of Detroit, consisted of one hundred 
and sixty-six members, and had Rev. Nathaniel West for its pastor. 

Canandaigua. — Of the settlement of this place, the organization 
of a Congregational church, the ordination and installation of Rev, 
Timothy Field as its pastor, and his dismission June 12th, 1805, 
we have spoken in a former chapter. The church was, for a sea- 
son, connected with the Ontario Association, but, in 1810, gave 
notice of its secession, and declared itself independent of all human 
jurisdiction, and, as an independent Congregational church, it has 
continued to the present time. In 1829, it numbered two hundred 
and sixty members ; in 1833, three hundred and ten ; and in 1846, 
two hundred and nineteen. For some time after the dismission of 
Mr. Field, the church had no regularly settled pastor, but was 
furnished with stated supplies. Of these, Rev. Messrs. Channing 
and Torrey were the most conspicuous. They were gentlemen of 
extensive erudition and respectable talents, but had embraced the 
sentiments of the New England Unitarians. Mr. Torrey, it is 
said, previously to his leaving Canandaigua, had entirely changed 
his views respecting the person, character, and mediatorial work 
of the Lord Jesus Christ, embraced the orthodox sentiment, and 
professed a hope of salvation only through the atonement of Christ. 



400 WESTERN NEW YORK. 

This change in the views of Mr. Torrey, probably, prevented the 
establishment of Unitarianism in Western New York. Soon after 
the departure of Mr. Torrey, Rev. Evan Johns was installed pas- 
tor of the church. He was succeeded by Rev. Ansel D. Eddy 
(now Dr. Eddy of Newark, N. J.) in 1823 or '24, who continued in 
the pastorate about ten years, and was succeeded by Rev. Matthew 
L. R. P. Thompson. Mr. Thompson officiated in the pastoral 
office several years, and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Daggett, the 
present pastor. Messrs. Johns, Eddy, and Thompson, were mem- 
bers of the Presbytery of Geneva. During the ministry of Dr. 
Eddy several very extensive revivals of religion were enjoyed, as 
the result of which large accessions w T ere made to the church, and 
the standard of morals in the community considerably elevated. 

This church, in a pecuniary point of view, has always been 
strong, and has never needed foreign assistance in supporting the 
ministry, but has been able to do much to assist those that were 
needy. In the infancy of the church and for a number of years, 
public worship was held in the old court-house, but for many years 
past the church has had a large, elegant, and commodious house, in 
which the worship of God has been maintained. The Methodists, 
the Episcopalians, and the Baptists, have respectable congregations 
in the village* of Canandaigua, and each denomination has an appro- 
priate house of worship. 



401 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

Presbytery of Ithaca :— Peruville, West Groton, Ludlowville, Trumansburgh, Hector, 
Burdett, Mecklenburgh, Enfield, Ithaca, Varna, Dryden, Caroline, Derby, Newfield. 

PRESBYTERY OF ITHACA. 

Peruville. — This is a village in the town of Groton. The church 
was received under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, Jan. 26th, 
1820. On the minutes of the Presbytery, and in the reports to the 
General Assembly, it is named Peru, until it was transferred to the 
Presbytery of Ithaca, on the organization of that body in October, 
1839. The author believes that when taken under the care of the 
Presbytery it had been recently constituted. It has always been 
small, and comparatively feeble. In 1827 it numbered but thirteen 
members. In 1832 it had increased only to eighteen. The next 
year it reported twenty-eight members, ten having been received 
on profession. In 1843 it reported sixty-one members, the largest 
number ever reported. It is constantly reported as vacant till 
1830. Rev. John Alexander was at that time stated supply, but 
death terminated his ministry in about nine months from the time of 
his commencing labor with the church. In 1833, Rev. Marcus 
Harrison statedly supplied this church, in connexion with Groton 
West. Rev. Daniel C. Hopkins supplied the two churches one 
year, from May, 1835, and Rev. Samuel Scott, from June, 1836, to 
December, 1837. Rev. Moses Jewell was installed pastor of the 
church, April 10th, 1839, and was dismissed Sept. 7th, 1841. In 
the support of all these ministers, the church has been aided from 
the funds of the American Home Missionary Society. What minis- 
terial aid the church have enjoyed since Mr. Jewell's dismission is 
not known to the writer. They have an appropriate house of wor- 
ship. 

West Groton. — This part of the town of Groton was settled in 
1797. James Henshaw, Seth Curtis, Ichabod Brown, and John 
Guthrie, were the first settlers. Public worship was first set , up in 
1800. The church, composed of five members only, was constitut- 
ed in 1816 by Rev. Seth Smith and Rev. Joshua Dean, and receiv- 
ed under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, Jan. 28th, 1817. It 
was transferred to the Presbytery of Ithaca, on the organization 
of that body. In 1825, the number of members reported was 
twenty- five; in 1832, forty-four, seventeen having been added by 
profession the previous year ; and in 1837, fifty-seven, twenty-two 



402 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



having been added by profession the previous year. This was the 
largest number ever reported. They have never had a stated 
pastor, but have the most part of the time enjoyed the labors of a 
stated supply, in connexion with some neighboring church, gene- 
rally aided by the Home Missionary Society. Rev. Messrs. Cyrus 
Hudson, Marcus Harrison, Daniel C. Hopkins, Samuel Scott, 
Spencer S. Clark, and Peleg R. Kinne, have severally in succes- 
sion labored here as stated supplies, the last of whom still continues 
his labors. The church has been blessed with several interesting 
seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, though no 
very great number has been added to the church at any one time. 
The church has an appropriate house of worship, forty by fifty 
feet in dimensions, with a congregation on the Sabbath day, vary- 
ing from one hundred to one hundred and fifty persons. They live 
intermixed with Baptists, Methodists, and Christians, all of whom 
have societies of considerable strength and influence. 

Ludlowville. — This village is situated on Salmon Creek, in the 
town of Lansing, formerly a part of the town of Milton. The set- 
tlement commenced in March, 1791, by the Ludlow family, which 
was the third family of white settlers in the military township of 
Milton. The Ludlow T s, in connexion with the Wheelers and Tracies 
of Poplar Ridge (Scipio), in coming to their place of location, 
brought their effects in a hand-sled on the ice from the head of the 
Cayuga lake to Salmon Creek. The Ludlows consisted of three 
families, viz. Silas and Henry Ludlow, brothers, and Thomas 
Ludlow son of Henry, with the members of their respective fami- 
lies. Henry Ludlow bought a military lot of 600 acres. They 
put up shanties and built a tub-mill the first season, in which their 
grain was merely ground without bolting. The next year they 
obtained a small bolting-cloth, and on a reel hung on two barrels, 
the customers who chose it bolted their flour. The next season 
they built a saw-mill, and thus boards were obtained for the doors, 
floors, and roofs of their buildings. No public worship was held 
till about two years from the commencement of the settlement. A 
church was organized in this place about the year 1805, which has 
already been noticed as the Third Church of Genoa, and which was 
dissolved in 1812 or '13. The present existing church of Ludlow 
ville was organized as a strictly Presbyterian Church, by Rev. Dr 
Wisner and Rev. Samuel Parker, in December, 1817, and was 
taken under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, January 27th, 
1818. On the erection of the Presbytery of Ithaca it was assigned 
that body. The church, at its organization, consisted of eighteen 
members, some of whom were from the church of Lansing, but 
nearly half of them had never before been members of any church. 
At the first communion season five more were added to the church. 
In 1818, seventeen members were added by profession ; in 1819, 



PRESBYTERY OF ITHACA. 



403 



twenty-six; in 1820, nine ; and in 1821, fifteen. All these years 
might with propriety be denominated years of revival. In 1831, 
ninety-six, and almost all by profession, were added to the church, 
and the next year, twenty-two more mostly by profession. These 
were peculiarly years of the right hand of the Most High. In 
1835, between thirty and forty were received to the church. Also 
in 1843, an interesting work of grace was manifested, as the result 
of which thirty-eight individuals were added to the church, and as 
many or more gave in their names to the Methodist class. Previous 
to this the church had become much reduced by deaths and remov- 
als. It now numbers about one hundred members. 

Rev. Wm. M. Adams was the first pastor of the church. He 
was ordained and installed, April 21st, 1819. The church pros- 
pered under his ministry, which continued till June 19th, 1827, 
when the relation was dissolved. Rev. Asa K. Buell commenced 
ministering to the church as a stated supply, in 1827, and continued 
three years. After his departure the church for a season was sup- 
plied by licentiates from Auburn Seminary, and then by Rev. 
Marcus Harrison. February 16th, 1832, Rev. Abner P. Clark was 
installed pastor. He was dismissed August 19th, 1833. Mr. Har- 
rison returned in November, 1833, and supplied till June following, 
when he was succeeded by Rev. Homer Adams, who continued 
one year. Mr. Harrison then supplied again for six or seven 
months. August 30th, 1836, Rev. Frederick H. Brown was or- 
dained and installed pastor of the church, and continued about three 
years. He was dismissed, April 15th, 1839. Rev. George H. 
Hastings was ordained and installed pastor April 2d, 1840, and was 
dismissed September 7th, 1841. The present pastor, Rev. Levi 
Griswold, commenced ministering to the church in May, 1842, and 
was installed September 27th of the same year. 

Many of the members of the church have from time to time re- 
moved to the Western States. One church in Michigan has thirty " 
of its members and three of its elders. The church have always 
supported their own minister without foreign aid. They have a 
respectable house of worship, fifty feet by forty, erected in 1823 ; 
also a good session house in the same yard erected in 1844. There 
is a Methodist house of worship in the village, but the congregation is 
not equal in number and strength to the Presbyterian. The Metho- 
dist denomination have a large church and Society four miles south- 
east from the village, and another in Lansingville. There is also a 
Baptist church about five miles east of the village. The Methodists 
are the most numerous denomination in the town of Lansing. 

Trumansburgh.— This village is situated in the town of Ulysses, 
the settlement of which commenced at an early period. A church 
of the Presbyterian order was organized in this place by Rev. 
Jedidiah Chapman, about the commencement of 1803. It consist- 



404 WESTERN NEW YORK. 

ed, at its organization, of eight members, and was designated in 
the reports of the Presbytery down to the period of 1837, as the 
church of Ulysses, or Ulysses first church. The church, soon af- 
ter its organization, was received under the care of the Presbytery 
of Oneida, and on the division of that Presbytery, in 1805, was as- 
signed to the Presbytery of Geneva. In October, 1839, on the 
erection of the Presbytery of Ithaca, it was assigned to that Pres- 
bytery. As the church was organized by Mr. Chapman, so it 
seems to have been fostered by him in his capacity of missionary 
for a season. In his journal for 1803 and 1804, he speaks of his 
visits to this church, and of a blessed outpouring of the Holy 
Spirit, so that the church, in about one year from its organization, 
had increased to the number of near fifty members, almost exclu- 
sively by profession. Nov. 5th, 1805, Rev. Gerrit Mandeville was 
installed as pastor of this church, in connexion with the second 
church of Ulysses. He was dismissed from his pastoral charge of 
the first church, Oct. 31st, 1810. From this period till 1820, the 
history of the church is unknown to the writer. July 19th, 1820, 
Rev. Manassah M. York was installed pastor of the church. The 
writer believes that he was dismissed in 1824. In the report to 
the General Assembly for 1825, the church is reported as vacant. 
In 1826, or the beginning of the succeeding year, Rev. John H. 
Carle was installed pastor of the church, and continued in the pas- 
torate .till 1833. In 1834, the church is reported as furnished with 
a stated supply, and the next year, Rev. Hiram L. Miller is re- 
ported as pastor, and the following year, Rev. John H.Carleas stated 
supply. Oct. 3d, 1839, Rev. Hutchins Taylor was installed as pas- 
tor of the church. He was dismissed October 23d, 1844, and suc- 
ceeded by Rev. David H. Hamilton, who was ordained and in- 
stalled pastor, Sept. 3d, 1845. 

This church has been repeatedly visited with the reviving and 
converting, influences of the Holy Spirit. We have already 
noticed the precious season enjoyed the first year of the existence 
of the church. During the ministry of Mr. York, some measure 
of divine influence was experienced, and additions made to the 
church, so that in 1825, the church numbered one hundred and 
thirty-five communicants. During the ministry of Mr. Carle, re- 
peated visitations of the Divine Spirit were granted. Of additions 
of members by profession, thirty-two were reported in 1827 ; 
twenty-two the succeeding year ; ninety-two in 1831, and thirty- 
five the succeeding year. In 1832, the whole number of members 
was two hundred and twenty. Under the ministry of Mr. Taylor, 
the church was again visited in a measure, and enlarged by the ad- 
dition of hopeful converts from the word. In 1843, the church re- 
ported two hundred and seventy-three members. 

The church have a commodious house of worship, and have 
always supported their own minister without foreign aid. The 



PRESBYTERY OF ITHACA. 



405 



Baptist and Methodist denominations have houses of worship in 
the village, and large and respectable congregations. 

Hector. — The town of Hector still includes an original military 
township of one hundred square miles, and on the territory three 
Presbyterian churches are located. That which is denominated 
the Church of Hector, is located in the north-western section of 
the town, and is sometimes spoken of as " Peach Orchard" a 
name derived from the circumstance that, when the place was first 
visited by white men, an Indian peach orchard here existed. The 
settlement of the town commenced at a very early period. Among 
the earliest were Mr. George Fawcett, Captain Richard Ely, Hon. 
Grover Smith, and his brother Reuben Smith. A daughter of 
Mr. Fawcett's was the first white child born in the town of Hector. 
She was carried on horseback soon after her birth into the region 
of Northumberland in the State of Pennsylvania, to receive the 
ordinance of baptism. She is now a worthy member of the church 
of Hector. A son of Capt. Ely, named Hector, was the first white 
male child born in the town. The name of Smith has been a very 
common name-in the town of Hector. In taking the census, some 
twenty or thirty years since, it was ascertained that more r than 
three hundred persons in the town bore that name. The Presby- 
terian church was organized about the year 1810, and was received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, Oct. 30th of that 
year. On the constitution of the Presbytery of Ithaca, it came 
under the care of that body. Rev. William Clark was installed 
pastor of the church in connexion with that of Ovid, April 17th, 
181 L The author believes that his labors for one fourth part of 
the time were to be appropriated to Hector. He was dismissed, 
Feb. 14th, 1816. He was succeeded by Rev. Stephen Porter, who 
was installed, Sept. 10th, 1816, over the two churches, his services 
to be divided between them in the same proportion. He was 
dismissed, Sept. 6th, 1820. From this period for several years the 
church was sometimes vacant, and sometimes supplied. Rev. 
Richard Andrews supplied about three years, after which the church 
was vacant for a considerable period. Rev. Leverett Hull supplied 
for a season in 1826 or '27. Under his peculiar style of preaching, 
a high religious excitement prevailed, and, no doubt, a goodly 
number were converted to God. The church reported in 1826, 
nineteen members added by profession the preceding year, and the 
next year, twenty-seven. In 1827, Rev. Erastus N. Nichols was 
constituted pastor of the church, but remained but one year. After 
Mr. Nichols' departure the church was supplied for a short period 
by Rev. Mr. Campbell, a Presbyterian minister from Ireland. Rev. 
James H. Hotchkin commenced ministering to this church in 
January, 1830, and was installed as pastor, April 20th of the same 
year. He continued about three years in the pastorate, and was 



406 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



dismissed, Feb. 5th, 1832. During Mr. Hotchkin's ministry a sea- 
son of refreshing was enjoyed of which mention has been made in 
a former part of this work. As the result of it about twenty-five 
persons were admitted to the church on a profession of faith in 
Christ. Rev. Ebenezer Everett succeeded Mr. Hotchkin as a 
stated supply, and continued three years. He was followed by 
Rev. Adams W. Piatt, who, after ministering as stated supply two 
or three years, was installed as pastor, Dec. 8th, 1839, and still 
continues in that capacity. During most of the year 1839, an 
interesting state of things existed in the church, the converting 
influences of the Holy Spirit were felt, and as the result, the church 
was enlarged by the addition of thirty-three new members. In 
1840, the church reported one hundred and five members, the 
largest number ever reported. In the support of Messrs. Nichols, 
Hotchkin, and Piatt, they have been aided by the funds of the 
American Home Missionary Society. They have an appropriate 
house of worship, much larger than is needed by the congregation. 
The Baptist Church, which is respectable in numbers and strength, 
have a house of worship in the near vicinity of the Presbyterian 
house. The Methodists also have a house of worship within the 
bounds of the congregation, and constitute, perhaps, the most nu- 
merous denomination in that quarter of the town. 

Burdette. — This village is situated in the south-western part of 
the town of Hector. This part of the town was first settled about 
the year 1801, by William Martin, Joseph Carson, and Mowbry 
Owen. Joseph Gillespie held the title to the land from the State 
for services rendered in the Revolutionary war, and moved on to 
his land in 1799. In religious concerns, the inhabitants who be- 
longed to the Presbyterian denomination were connected with the 
■congregation of Hector, and shared in the same ministry. A sepa- 
rate church, composed principally of members from the church ol 
Hector, was organized, February 14th, 1826, by Rev. Isaac Flag- 
ler, Rev. Thomas Lounsbury, and Mr. Peter Le Conte elder, acting 
as a committee of the Presbytery of Geneva. The church at its 
organization consisted of eighteen members, and was attached to the 
Presbytery of Geneva, from which it was removed on the organi- 
zation of the Presbytery of Ithaca. Rev. Jabez Chadwick labored 
here as a stated supply from the time of the organization of the 
church till September, 1828. Rev. Robert Campbell preached here 
for a season in 1829 and 1830. Rev. William P. Jackson officiated 
as stated supply during the year 1833. But for a considerable 
period the church was in a very low state. Stated public worship 
was intermitted. They were aided to some extent by the ministers 
who officiated in Hector. But the church seemed verging to disso- 
lution. In 1836, they reported but twenty-five members. But God 
appeared for them in their low estate. Rev. Joseph K. Ware 



PRESBYTERY OF ITHACA. 



407 



commenced preaching as stated supply in January, 1838, and con- 
tinued till April, 1842. Under his ministry the church experienced 
some reviving. In 1840, sixteen are reported as having been added 
the previous year by profession, and the church then numbered 
fifty-eight members. Rev. J .Parsons Hovey succeeded Mr. Ware as 
stated supply in July, 1842, and was installed as pastor in July, 1843, 
in which station he still continues.*' During the autumn of 1842 and 
winter following, the church experienced a season of refreshing from 
on high, and about forty professed to indulge a hope in Christ. The 
church at the last report numbered eighty-nine members. In the sup- 
port of Messrs. Jackson and Ware they received aid from the Ame- 
rican Home Missionary Society. They now support their pastor with- 
out foreign aid. They have a convenient and pleasant house of wor- 
ship, which was erected nearly twenty years since, and was enlarged 
and finished in 1844. It is in length sixty-eight feet, and in breadth 
thirty-eight. Nearly two-thirds of the families in the village attend 
the Presbyterian Church. There is an Old School Baptist con- 
gregation which meets in the village for worship, varying in num- 
ber from fifteen to thirty persons. These are hostile to all the 
benevolent operations of the day. There is a Methodist Church ? 
but small and weak, and a Baptist Church at Bennettsville, two 
miles east of Burdette, nearly as large as the Presbyterian Church. 
They have a house of worship. 

Mecklenburgh. — This village is situated in the town of Hector, 
near the eastern line of the town. It was first settled by Calvin 
Treman, in 1800. Public worship was set up by the Baptists at 
an early period. The Methodists soon after established a meeting. 
The Presbyterian church, consisting of thirty members, was 
organized, in 1833, by Rev. Henry Ford, who at that time was 
laboring here and at Enfield under a commission from the American 
Home Missionary Society. The members who composed the 
church at its organization were mostly taken from the church of 
Trumansburgh ; some from Burdette, and other places. The 
church was first connected with the Presbytery of Geneva, but on 
the erection of the Presbytery of Ithaca, was assigned to that 
Presbytery. Mr. Ford continued to minister to the church for 
a season, after its organization. Others followed him for short 
periods, but no steady ministration of gospel ordinances till 1839. 
At that period Rev. Isaac Crabbe commenced ministering to the 
church, and under the patronage of the American Home Mission- 
ary Society, continued until 1843. In that year, the present pas- 
tor, Rev. Solomon R. Scofield, commenced his ministrations, and 
was ordained and installed pastor of the church, Oct. 23d, 1844. 
The church has from time to time shared in the effusions of the 
Holy Spirit, as a consequence of which, additions have been made 

* Dismissed since this was written. 



408 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



to it, though not in great numbers at any one time. In 1840, 
eighteen are reported as having been added the preceding year by 
profession. Considerable additions were made in 1842, '44, '45, 
and '46. In the last of these years the church numbered eighty- 
nine members. They have an appropriate house of worship, 
erected in 1842, which is fifty-six feet in length, and forty in 
breadth. The Baptist and Methodist denominations have likewise 
appropriate houses of worship in the village. At all these places 
of worship, congregations, respectable for numbers, convene. 

Enfield. — This town was formed from the south-western part of 
the town of Ulysses, and its settlement probably commenced 
nearly at the same time with the other parts of the original town. 
But, though other denominations had a standing in the town from 
an early period, the Presbyterians had no organization till com- 
paratively a late period. About the year 1831 or '32, Rev. William 
Page, then officiating as a stated supply at Ithaca, visited the 
place occasionally, and preached to the people, and was instru- 
mental in organizing a church, principally from members of the 
church of Ithaca. The number of its members is not known to 
the author. The church was taken under the care of the Presby- 
tery of Cayuga, Feb. 14th, 1832. Its relation has several times 
been changed : first to the Presbytery of Geneva ; next, to Tioga ; 
and, lastly, to Ithaca, on the organization of that Presbytery. 
The largest number of members reported is sixty-five. This was 
in the year 1840. At the time of the last report on record, the 
number was forty-one. Rev. Henry Ford, under the patronage of 
the American Home Missionary Society, labored here and in 
Mecklenburgh one year from November, 1833. Rev. Royal West, 
under the same patronage, labored here one or two years, and 
Rev. Daniel Washburn nearly one year. In November, 1837, 
Rev. Warren Day commenced ministering to this congregation, 
and was installed pastor, Feb. 28th, 1838. He continued tiU'Feb. 
6th, 1844, when he was dismissed. In his support the church were 
aided by the American Home Missionary Society. Rev. Moses 
Jewell labored, under the same patronage, one year from April, 
1844. The present condition of this church is not known to the 
writer. Seasons of partial revival have been enjoyed, but they 
have not been extensive. The church has an appropriate house 
of worship, which was completed in 1835 or '36. 

Ithaca. — This town originally constituted the south-eastern part 
of the military township of Ulysses. Its settlement commenced in 
1789. The first settlers were from New England, but at an early 
period Dutch settlers from New Jersey came in. The commence- 
ment of the village may have been about the year 1800. The 
Presbyterian church was organized, Jan. 24th, 1804, by Rev. 



PRESBYTERY OF ITHACA. 



409 



Jedidiah Chapman, a missionary of the General Assembly. The 
writer supposes that it was organized with twelve members, as Mr. 
Chapman in his journal speaks of receiving the names of twelve 
persons, who proposed to unite in church fellowship. The church 
was denominated " The South Presbyterian Church in Ulysses." 
It was, however, designated on the reports and minutes of the 
Presbytery, by the name of " Ulysses Second Church," till it took 
the name of Ithaca. Soon after its organization, it was received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Oneida, and, on the organiza- 
tion of the Presbytery of Geneva, in 1805, was assigned to that 
body. In August, 1816, the church, on account of convenience 
of location, was dismissed from its connexion with the Presbytery 
of Geneva, and in February of the next year was taken under the 
care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, and on the erection of the Pres- 
bytery of Ithaca, was assigned to that body. On the fifth day of 
November, 1805, Rev. Gerrit Mandeville was installed pastor of 
this, and the first church of Ulysses, by the Presbytery of Geneva. 
He was dismissed from his pastoral relation to the church of Ithaca, 
August 15th, 1816. During Mr. Mandeville's relation to the 
church, no special revival of religion took place. Ithaca was but 
an inconsiderable place ; wickedness greatly prevailed, and fre- 
quently, it is said, not more than fifteen persons, and rarely more 
than thirty or forty, were found upon the Sabbath attending public 
worship. The church had made very little increase in numbers, 
and for a considerable period previous to Mr. Mandeville's dismis- 
sion, no preaching was enjoyed, he having removed from the place. 

In the month of February, 1816, Rev. Wm. Wisner (now Dr. Wis- 
ner) commenced preaching in the place, being engaged as a stated 
supply for one year. The church had no suitable place for worship. 
Mr. Wisner first preached in a small, dilapidated school-house, then 
in the summer in a barn, from which, after a season, the meetings 
were removed to the loft of a stable attached to the building, since 
called the Temperance House. On examining the records of the 
church, the names of twenty individuals residing in the village or 
its vicinity, were found and recognised as members of the church. 
Of these, eight were males and twelve females. Of the males, 
three were in a very short time excommunicated for heresy or 
gross immorality, and two of the females were suspended from the 
communion of the church. Soon after the commencement of Dr. 
Wisner's ministry, some special seriousness was manifested in the 
congregation, and a number of hopeful conversions occurred. At 
the first season of the administration of the Lord's Supper, in the 
spring of 1816, seventeen members were added to the church by 
profession, and in August, eleven more were received. These 
were indeed days of rejoicing to the pious in Ithaca. Still wicked- 
ness abounded. Sabbath breaking, gambling, uncieanness, and 
other vices, prevailed. On the fifth day of February, Dr. Wisner 



410 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



was installed pastor of the church. In the autumn of 1817, two 
leading gamblers and horse-racers were hopefully converted, and 
with about forty more individuals, were united to the church on a 
profession of faith in Christ. In the spring of 1818, the meetings 
were removed from the stable-loft to the new church which the 
congregation had erected, and which in due form was dedicated to 
the service of Almighty God. In 1825, this edifice was found to 
be too small for the accommodation of the congregation, and was 
enlarged by the addition of twenty-six feet to the north end. The 
congregation had become strong in comparison with what it once 
was. The church numbered two hundred and sixty-three members. 
The village had greatly multiplied its inhabitants, and the morals of 
the place were greatly improved. 

But the blessings of the Holy Spirit which had been enjoyed, 
though great and glorious, were small in comparison with those 
which were to follow. A manifestation of more than ordinary 
seriousness appeared in the congregation as early as the month of 
June, 1826, and continued through the summer. In the beginning 
of November about sixty-five were indulging a hope, and thirty- 
eight had united with the church. In the latter part of this month, 
a new impulse was given to the work. Meetings were held daily 
for a considerable period. From the last week in September to 
the last week in January following, it was reckoned that about 
300 hopeful conversions had occurred in the Presbyterian congre- 
gation, and 220 were added to the church. 

In April, 1830, thirty-one members were dismissed on their re- 
quest to form the present Reformed Dutch Church in the village. 
In the autumn of this year the spirit of God was again poured out 
upon the south hill, from whence it spread with great rapidity 
throughout the boundaries of the congregation. As the fruits of 
this revival, during the month of January, 1831, 224 members were 
added to the church, making the church to consist of more than 
800 members, united in sentiment and in heart to one another. On 
the 14th day of April, 1831, Dr. Wisner was, at his own request, 
dismissed from his pastoral relation to the church, and removed his 
family from the place. 

Dr. Wisner was succeeded by Rev. William Page as stated supply 
for about one year. His labors were to some extent blessed to the 
conversion of sinners, and increase of the church. He was suc- 
ceeded-by Rev. Alfred E. Campbell, who was installed pastor of the 
church, August 8th, 1832. His labors as pastor were continued to 
October 16th, 1834, when he was dismissed from his charge. He 
was succeeded by Rev. John W. McCullough, who was installed 
pastor of the church and congregation, November 12th, 1834. He 
was dismissed, April 10th, 1838, having embraced the sentiments 
of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Soon afterwards he received 
orders in the Episcopal Church from the Bishop of Pennsylvania. 



PRESBYTERY OF ITHACA. 



411 



A short time previous to the dismission of Mr. McCullough, Dr. 
Wisner, the first pastor, returned with his family, and took up his 
residence in the village. He was requested again to supply the 
pulpit, and his health being sufficiently restored, on the call of the 
church and congregation, he was again installed their pastor, 
July 10th, 1838. Since Dr. Wisner's resumption of pastoral labors 
with this church, there have been two special seasons of revival, 
viz. in the latter part of the years 1838 and 1839. In these seasons 
of divine influence, it is reckoned that as many as 160 souls were 
born of God. During the period of Dr. Wisner's ministry,. and in- 
cluding the ministry of Messrs. Page, Campbell, and McCullough, 
down to the year 1842, there- had been received into the church 
1,349 members, of whom 460 had removed or been dismissed to 
other churches ; forty-nine had been cut off by discipline ; and 175 
had gone to their final rest. The contributions of the church and 
congregation to promote the benevolent operations of the day, have 
amounted annually for several years to about 81500. There are 
in the village, besides the Presbyterian and Reformed Dutch, an 
Episcopal, a Methodist, a Baptist, and an African Church. 

Varna. — This is a village situated in the town of Dryden near 
its western line. It began to be settled at a pretty early period by 
emigrants from different places, particularly from New Jersey. 
The village in former times has been noted for intemperance, gam- 
bling, horse-racing, and Sabbath desecrations. Religious meetings 
were few and thinly attended. The Methodists have had circuit 
preaching in the village for more than twenty years. The Pres- 
byterians have had only occasional preaching, until the summer of 
1842. Since that period they have had it statedly every Lord's 
Day. Rev. George Spalding was commissioned by the American 
Home Missionary Society, in August, 1842, to labor in this place, 
and has continued under the patronage of the Society to the pre- 
sent time. The church was organized by a committee of the 
Presbytery of Ithaca, September 22d, 1842", consisting of twenty- 
seven members, a part of whom were received on letters of dismis- 
sion from the church of Ithaca, and the remainder on a profession of 
faith in Christ. The church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery, September 27th, 1842. Mr. Spalding officiated as 
stated supply about two years, and was then installed as pastor of 
the church, September 5th, 1844. Early in the Spring of 1843, 
this infant church was blessed with a precious and extensive re- 
vival of religion, in which a considerable number of heads of fami- 
lies were hopefully converted. More than sixty individuals pro- 
fessed a hope in Christ, but did not all unite with the Presbyterian 
Church. Since that time several seasons of refreshing, in which 
the people of God have been quickened, and some sinners converted, 
have been enjoyed, but no general out-pouring of the Spirit has 



412 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



taken place. The church has increased in the number of its mem- 
bers to more than one hundred, and, as it respects the state of 
morals, a great and pleasing change has taken place. The church 
has a neat and commodious house of worship, sixty feet in length 
and forty in breadth, which was erected in 1843. They have 
received one hundred dollars annually from the American Home 
Missionary Society, in aid for the support of their pastor, which 
has been generously donated by Mr. Timothy S. Williams, of 
Ithaca. The congregation live intermixed with Methodists and 
Baptists of different kinds ; but the Presbyterian congregation is 
thought to be the largest in number. As many as three-fourths of 
the population, it is estimated, are ordinarily attendants on public 
worship in some one of the churches. 

Dryden. — The settlement of this town commenced about the 
year 1800. At what period the church was organized, or by whom, 
is not known to the writer. It was connected with the Middle 
Association, and, on the division of that body in 1810, was assigned 
to the Presbytery of Cayuga. In 1829, in the division of that 
Presbytery, it was assigned to the Presbytery of Tioga, and on the 
erection of the Presbytery of Ithaca became attached to that body. 
The writer has no information respecting its number of members 
till 1827. It then consisted of eighty-nine members, thirty-seven 
having been received the year preceding. From this period there 
was a small annual increase to 1832. That year the church re- 
ported one hundred and eighty-six members, seventy-one having 
been received on profession the year previous. In 1836, the num- 
ber reported was two hundred and thirty-one, thirty-five having 
been received the preceding year by profession. In 1843, the 
whole number reported was two hundred and forty-seven, sixty 
having been received on profession in three years next preceding. 
From the time of the organization of the church till 1821, the writer 
is not informed respecting its enjoyment of ministerial aid. In July 
of that year Rev. Reuben Hurd was installed pastor of the church. 
He was dismissed July 1st, 1823. After an interval of a little more 
than two years, Rev. Samuel Robertson was, November 16th, 
1825, installed pastor of the churches of Dryden and Virgil. In 
what proportion his ministrations were divided between the two 
churches, is not known to the writer. He continued in charge of 
the two churches four or five years, when his relation to the church 
of Virgil was discontinued. He remained pastor of the church of 
Dryden till July 5th, 1834, when the connexion was dissolved. He 
was succeeded by Rev. Luther Clark, who was installed as pastor, 
June 9th, 1835, and held this relation until it was dissolved by his 
death in the spring of 1845. In 1846, the church was reported as 
having a stated supply. The church'seems to have been, through 
the good providence of God, a prosperous church, and to have 



PRESBYTERY OF ITHACA. 



413 



enjoyed precious seasons of divine visitation by the Holy Spirit, in 
his converting influences. They were assisted in the support of 
Mr. Robertson one or two years by the American Home Missionary 
Society. With this exception they have always supported their 
own minister without foreign aid. They have an appropriate house 
of worship, and there is another in the village belonging to the 
Methodist denomination. 

Caroline. — The history of this town is altogether unknown to 
the writer. The church was received under the care of the Pres- 
bytery of Cayuga, Jan. 25th, 1820. It had, at that time, been 
recently organized. It was transferred to the Presbytery of Tioga, 
and from that to the Presbytery of Ithaca, on the organization of 
those bodies. In 1825, it consisted of twenty-nine members. In 
1832, it reported forty-five, but in 1847, only thirty-six. It has 
never had a pastor, and for a considerable part of the time has 
been reported as vacant. As stated supplies, we find the names 
of Rev. Messrs. Zenas Riggs, Henry Ford, Moses Jewell, Samuel 
Scott, Peleg R. Kinne, and Joel Jewell. Most of these minis- 
tered to another church at the same time, and all of them, except 
Mr. Riggs, received a part of their salary from the funds of the 
American Home Missionary Society. The last of those above 
named received his commission, Nov. 1st, 1846, and is supposed to 
be now laboring on that field, including also the church of Newark. 

Danby. — The general settlement of this town was of a some- 
what later date than that of some other places in the vicinity. A 
portion of the settlers were from Connecticut. These instituted 
public worship upon the Sabbath, and a Congregational Church 
was organized as early, perhaps, as 1812. Rev. Samuel Parker 
was installed as pastor, as the writer believes, by an ecclesiastical 
council some time previous to 1815. The church was received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, Feb. 21st, 1815. It 
was transferred to the Presbytery of Tioga, and from that to Ithaca, 
in the same manner as the two churches last mentioned. It num- 
bered in 1825, seventy-three members ; in 1830, 175 : and in 1840, 
155. Mr. Parker continued as pastor till July 27th, 1826. The 
church then remained without a pastor about five years. In the 
interval, we find the names of Rev. Solomon Stephens and Rev. 
Marshal L. Farnsworth as stated supplies. Rev. Solomon Stephens 
was installed as pastor, June 21st, 1831. He continued till Jan. 
1st, 1833, when he was dismissed. He was succeeded by Rev. 
William Clark, whose installation took place June 10th, 1835. He 
continued in the pastorate nearly five years, and was dismissed 
May 14th, 1840. Mr. Clark was succeeded by Rev. Stephen 
Voorheis as stated supply, whose labors are still continued. 

This church has been repeatedly visited by the gracious influences 



414 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



of the Holy Spirit. This was the case during the ministry of Mr. 
Parker. In 1826, the work was most powerful, and the hopeful 
subjects of it amounted to near 200. Again in 1839, a blessed 
season of divine influences was enjoyed, and about sixty were added 
to the church. Other seasons, which the writer is unable to parti- 
cularize, have been enjoyed. This church has always supported 
its own minister without foreign aid. It has an appropriate house 
of worship, and there is another in the village belonging to the 
Methodist denomination. 

Newfield. — This town was formerly apart of the town of Cayuta, 
and was first settled in 1807 or 1808, by families from the town of 
Lansing, originally from Connecticut and New Jersey. Deacon 
Ebenezer Patchin, from Connecticut, was one of the first settlers, 
and from the commencement of his residence in the place opened 
his habitation on the Sabbath for religious worship, and with little 
aid from others maintained stated public worship till a church was 
organized, a period of ten years. The organization of the church 
was accomplished, October 24th, 1817, by Rev. John Bascom, who 
was laboring as a missionary in the vicinity, and appropriating one 
fourth of the time to this people. The gathering of a church was 
the result of a revival connected with the labors of Mr. Bascom. 
The number of members at the organization of the church was 
eleven. The author supposes that this is the church which was 
received under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, Jan. 28th, 1818, 
and denominated the church of Cayuta. It has passed through the 
same changes, as to its Presbyterial connexion, as the three next 
preceding churches which have been mentioned. The church, in 
1825, consisted of twenty-six members. The highest number ever 
on the list at one time, is one hundred and seventy. The number 
at the last report was one hundred and forty-four. Mr. Bascom 
closed his labors soon after the organization of the church, and was 
succeeded by Rev. Stephen Crosby, under a missionary appoint- 
ment, who appropriated a portion of his time to this church for a 
season, and under whose ministry about thirty were added to the 
church. Rev. Samuel Parker, under the direction of the Massa- 
chusetts Missionary Society, labored here a small portion of the 
time for several years. During most of the years 1829 and '30, 
Rev. Ebenezer I. Leavenworth labored here as a stated supply 
under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. 
Rev. Joseph R. Johnson was stated supply in 1833 and 1834. 
After him Rev. Alvah Lilly commenced labor, and was installed 
pastor on the 11th day of June, 1835. His dismission took place, 
September 1 1th, 1839. He was succeeded by Rev. Octavius Fitch, 
who supplied from the winter of 1839 till April, 1842. He was 
immediately succeeded by Rev. Zenas Riggs, whose labors are still 
continued. In the support of Mr. Lilly the church were aided by 



PRESBYTERY OF ITHACA. 



415 



the American Home Missionary Society, as also in the support of 
Mr. Riggs since April, 1846. 

The first season of revival which was connected with the forma- 
tion of the church has been noticed. Another connected with a 
protracted meeting, and resulting in the addition of about forty 
members to the church, was enjoyed in 1831. A third, in 1840, 
added about twenty-five members to the church. The church has 
been greatly agitated by conflicting views respecting those subjects 
and measures by which so many churches have within a few years 
past been rent asunder ; but these difficulties have in a good mea- 
sure subsided, and the circumstances of the church are more favor- 
able. They have an excellent house of worship, fifty feet by forty 
in dimensions, which was erected in 1829, and dedicated in 1831. 
The great mass of the population are not yet gathered in assem- 
blies for religious worship. The Methodists and Baptists have 
each a house of worship with stated preaching on the Sabbath ; 
the former about equal to the Presbyterians in numerical and 
pecuniary strength ; the latter fewer and less able. 



410 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

Presbytery of Cortland : — De Ruyter, Lincklaen, Truxton, Preble, Preble Corners, 
Scott, Homer, Cortlindville, M' Grawville, Solon, Pitcher, Cincinnatus and Solon, 
Freetown, Virgil, Virgil Second Church, Harford, Marathon, Lisle. 

As next in local order, we proceed with the history of the 
churches of the 

PRESBYTERY OF CORTLAND. 

Commencing at the north-eastern section we begin with the 
church of 

De Ruyter. — This church was organized as a Congregational 
Church by Dr. Williston, in 1804 or 1805, and was received as a 
constituent member of the Union Association, September 8th, 1811. 
After the dissolution of that body it became connected with the 
Presbytery of Onondaga, and, on the division of the Presbytery in 
1825, was assigned to the Presbytery of Cortland. It has always 
been a small and feeble church. In 1825, it numbered twenty-four 
members; in 1837, fifty, but in 1846, reported but thirty. A large 
proportion of the time since its connexion with the Presbytery, it 
has been reported as vacant. From May, 1826, Rev. Mathew 
Harrison supplied one half of the time for two years, under the 
patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. Under the 
same patronage, and in a similar manner, Rev. Nathaniel Latham 
supplied from May, 1833, at least one year. Rev. Robert Brown 
also supplied one year from November, 1835, under the patronage 
of the Society. What ministerial aid the church enjoyed previous 
to Mr. Harrison's appointment as a missionary, is unknown to the 
writer. Rev. Joseph R. Johnson, in 1840, is reported as pastor of 
the church. He received a commission from the American Home 
Missionary Society to labor here, October 1st, 1839, and resigned 
his commission, October 1st, 1842. The author supposes that Mr. 
Johnson was dismissed from his pastoral charge of the church, 
about the time that he resigned his missionary commission, and that 
his pastorate continued about three years. Rev. Ezekiel D. Taylor 
was commissioned to labor here by the Missionary Society, Jan. 1st, 
1845, and his commission was renewed the succeeding year. In 
his report to the Society he expresses his fear that the church 
would become extinct, The church has a house of worship in 



PRESBYTERY OF CORTLAND. 



417 



the village. The Baptist denomination have also a house of 
worship. 

Linklaen The town of Linklaen was formerly a part of G erman, 

and the Presbyterian Church in the town was originally denomi- 
nated German Second Church. Of its history the writer has little 
knowledge. It is noted on the statistical tables of the General 
Assembly's minutes for 1818, as connected with the Presbytery of 
Onondaga, from which it was transferred to the Presbytery of Cort- 
land on the organization of that Presbytery. In 1825, the church 
is reported as consisting of forty-five members, and the highest 
number reported at any time is fifty. The church seems never to 
have been in a flourishing state. It has at times enjoyed the labors 
of a stated supply for a share of the time with the aid of the Ame- 
rican Home Missionary Society, but for the most part of the time 
it has been reported as vacant. On the minutes of the General 
Assembly for 1846, its name is not found. There is a Congrega- 
tional Church in the town of Linklaen ; but respecting its history 
and character the author is not informed. 

Truxton. — The town of Truxton comprises the south half of the 
military town of Fabius. Its settlement commenced in 1791, a sin- 
gle family of the name of Benedict breaking ground here. From 
that year to 1800, accessions were made by families, mostly from 
New England, bearing the names of Whitney, Steward, Trow- 
bridge, M'Knight, Jeffrey, Stiles, and Miller. Public worship was 
first commenced in 1801, by Rev. Hugh Wallis, by whom the in- 
habitants were supplied to some extent with ministerial services 
previous to the organization of a church. In 1811, a Congrega- 
tional Church, consisting of twenty-one members, was organized 
by Rev. Wm. J. Wilcox, assisted by Rev. John Davenport, and 
Rev. Joseph Avery, a missionary from Massachusetts. At the 
time of the organization of the church or soon after, Rev. Mr. Jew- 
ell commenced laboring with the church as a stated supply, and 
continued for some time. He was succeeded by Rev. Oliver 
Hitchcock in 1813, and he, by Rev. Mathew Harrison in 1814. 
How long Mr. Harrison continued with the church is not known to 
the author. 

In 1819, Rev. Ezra Woodworth supplied, and was succeeded 
the next year by Rev. Caleb Clark, then a licentiate preacher. On 
the fifth day of June, 1833, Mr. Clark was ordained and installed 
pastor of the church, which station he held till April 15th, 1830, 
when he was dismissed. Since this period, Rev. Charles E. Ave- 
ry, Rev. John N. Lewis, and Rev. Huntington Lyman, have seve- 
rally been employed as stated supplies. These were succeeded by 
Rev. William T. Doubleday, the present stated supply, who has 
now (1848) ministered to that congregation between two and three 

27 



418 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



years. In 1813, the church became connected with the Presbyte- 
ry of Onondaga, and was transferred to the Presbytery of Cortland 
on the erection of that body. The church enjoyed a precious sea- 
son of revival in 1820, as the result of which sixty-seven were 
added to its number. The year J 831 was also a season of refresh- 
ing. In 1825, the church consisted of one hundred and six mem- 
bers ; in 1837, it reported one hundred and eighty-eight, and in 
1846, one hundred and four. It has always supported its ministers 
without foreign aid. It has a good house of worship, sixty-two by 
forty-four feet in its dimensions, which was erected in 1820, The 
average attendance on public worship is about one hundred and 
seventy-five persons. The members of the congregation live inter- 
mixed with Baptists, Methodists, and Universalists. The Baptists 
are the most numerous denomination, and their church was orga- 
nized several years before the Congregational church. 

Preble. — The town of Preble was originally the south half of the 
military town of Tully. It has since been divided, and the eastern 
town denominated Scott. The first settlements in the town were 
made in 1798, by Messrs. James and Robert Cravath, John Gill, 
and Elijah Mason. Public worship was first set up in 1804, and 
on the twenty-seventh day of August of that year, a church, con- 
sisting of eleven members, was organized by Rev. Messrs. Theo- 
dore Hinsdale and Joel Hays, missionaries of the Hampshire Mis- 
sionary Society, of Connecticut. The church was denominated 
the Congregational Church of Tully ; but has since taken the name 
of the First Presbyterian Church of Preble. It was originally 
connected with the Middle Association, and on the dissolution 
of that body was assigned to the Presbytery of Onondaga, 
and subsequently to the Presbytery of Cortland. Its first pas- 
tor was Rev. Matthew Harrison, who commenced his labors 
with them in 1812, and was dismissed, Feb. 26th, 1822. He was 
succeeded by Rev. Enoch Bouton, who officiated as stated supply 
two years. After him, Rev. L. Weld supplied the desk one half of 
the time for two years. Rev. Abner P. Clark was the next in 
order of time. He was installed in 1827, and continued as pastor 
of the church six years. He was succeeded in the pastorate by 
Rev. Gardiner K. Clark, who was installed in 1833, and also con- 
tinued six years. Rev. Mr. Jones then supplied a few months, and 
after him Rev. B. F. Foltse two years. Rev. Elliot H. Payson 
commenced laboring with the congregation in August, 1840, and 
was installed pastor in 1842, and dismissed in 1844. In March, 
1845, Rev. William W. Collins was engaged as a stated supply, 
and continues his labors. The church, under the ministry of 
Messrs. Harrison, A. P. Clark, and G. K. Clark, enjoyed precious 
revivals, with other seasons of refreshing. In 1825, its number of 
members was seventy-seven; in 1828, one hundred and nineteen, 



PRESBYTERY OF CORTLAND. 



419 



forty-five having been added the preceding year; in 1840, two 
hundred and ten were reported; and in 1846, one hundred and 
thirty. The church has a house of worship, in dimensions sixty- 
four feet by forty-four. The number of attendants on worship 
upon the Sabbath varies from one hundred and fifty to two hun- 
dred. They have been aided in the support of Rev. A. P. Clark 
and Rev. G. K. Clark a number of years. 

In 1841, a large number of the members of the church separated 
from their brethren, and in process of time organized themselves 
into a church, which they denominate " The First Free Church in 
Preble." It numbers about sixty members, and a congregation 
upon the Sabbath which may average about one hundred and sixty. 
They have no immediate connexion with any ecclesiastical judica- 
tory, but harmonize in sentiments and practice with that class of 
people called Unionists. The Methodists have a church number- 
ing about seventy members, with an attendance on their worship 
about equal to that of the Presbyterians. 

Preble, Corners. — Of this church the writer knows nothing, ex- 
cept that it was received under the care of the Presbytery of 
Cortland, Sept 10th, 1828, was reported as having the labors of a 
stated supply, in 1829, and as vacant from that period to April 22d, 
1834, when it was dissolved by the Presbytery. 

Scott. — The settlement of this town commenced about the year 
1800. In 1802 there were seven families in the place. The church 
was organized as a Presbyterian church, May 25th, 1818, by a 
committee of the Presbytery of Onondaga. With this Presbytery 
it was connected until the organization of the Presbytery of Cort- 
land, when it was assigned to that Presbytery. In 1825, it adopt- 
ed the Congregational mode of government, still retaining its con- 
nexion with the Presbytery. At the period of the organization of 
the church, Rev. Reuben Hurd was preaching to the congregation 
a part of the time. His labors were continued for a season. 
After him Rev. Mr. Dunning labored for a season, and was follow- 
ed by Rev. Matthew Harrison, who, for a season, preached to this 
congregation one fourth part of the time. He was followed by 
several others in succession, who continued for short periods. Rev. 
Llewellyn R. Powell commenced preaching here in August, 1833, 
and was installed pastor of the church, August 25th, 1835. He 
continued till the spring or summer of 1838. After Mr. Powell's 
dismission, Rev. Mr. Redfield preached to the congregation one or 
two years, half of the time, and after him, Rev. Mr. Foltse for a. 
season. Rev. David Slie, a Unionist, was employed one year, and 
closed in the spring of 1843. In May, 1843, Rev. Hiram Harris,, 
then a licentiate preacher, commenced preaching to this congrega- 
tion, and was ordained and installed as its pastor by the Presbytery 



420 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



of Cortland, Oct. 18th of the same year. Mr. Harris preached 
at Borodino one half of the time, during the year 1845. 

The church has always been small in number and wfeak in 
means. In 1825, it numbered twenty-four members ; in 1836, sixty- 
eight, and in 1846, seventy. It was for a season considerably agitat- 
ed and distracted by Unionism, but since the settlement of its 
present pastor, peace and harmony have been in a good measure 
restored. The church has received the aid of the American Home 
Missionary Society, in the support of Messrs. Powell, Redfield, and 
Harris. They have a house of worship near the centre of the vil- 
lage, which is fifty feet long, and thirty-six in width. It was erect- 
ed, but not finished, in 1838. In 1845, it was undergoing a 
thorough repair, so as to render it comfortable and pleasant. The 
church live intermixed with other denominations. The Close Com- 
munion Baptist church is the oldest religious organization in the 
town. They numbered about one hundred members, and have a 
house of worship about two miles east of the village. The Seventh 
Day Baptists reckon about one hundred and twenty-five members,, 
and have a neat and comfortable house of worship, with a bell 
and burying-ground, in the northern part of the village. The 
Methodists have a small society, with a little, neat, and pleasant 
house of worship, which is almost new. 

Homer. — The settlement of the town of Homer commenced in 
1791, by Amos Todd and Spencer Beebe, one of whom was a pious 
man of the Baptist denomination. The next spring, John Miller, 
Esq., his two sons and two or three others, emigrated from Bing- 
hamton to Homer. Esq. Miller was a pious man, and immediately 
set up public worship upon the Sabbath. He was a valuable man 7 
though somewhat singular, and one to whom the town is in a mea- 
sure indebted for its present high character and religious institu- 
tions. In 1794 or '95 several families came in from Brimfield, 
Mass., and Farmington, Conn., some of whom were devotedly pious 
families. They were soon visited by missionaries, among whom 
may be named Rev. Messrs. Lindsley, Logan, Bushnell, and Wil- 
liston. The first sermon ever preached in the town was by Elder 
Peter P. Roots of the Baptist denomination. The second was by 
Rev. Asa Hillyer, D.D., of New Jersey, who came to the place to 
see some land, and finding the settlers collected to raise a house, at 
:their request he preached to them the gospel of Christ, standing 
under a beech tree. In 1798, under the preaching and other labors 
of Dr. Williston, a revival was enjoyed, and about sixteen indivi- 
duals were hopefully converted to God. This prepared the way 
for the formation of a church. But difficulties interposed. The 
religious views and Presbyterial preferences of Esq. Miller came 
in conflict with the strong Calvinistic and Congregational prefer- 
ences .of Dr. Williston and the New England settlers, who were 



PRESBYTERY OF CORTLAND. 



421 



much the most numerous part. Under these circumstances the 
professors of religion could not agree upon a confession of faith and 
mode of discipline to be adopted in the organization of a church. 
Thus a delay was caused, which was terminated in the following 
manner : A pious mother in Israel said to her husband one mor- 
ning, — " I have lain awake all night long in prayer for light as to 
our duty respecting the formation of a church. God has answered 
my prayer, and this is my plan : Do you go to all who are willing 
to unite in forming a Congregational Calvinistic Church, and pro- 
cure their names, and let all who will join us as they please." This 
advice was followed, and on the 12th day of October, 1801, a 
church was formed, consisting of fourteen members,«by Rev. Hugh 
Wallis of Solon. All the original members are now deceased. 
The church at the organization of the Middle Association became 
connected with that body. On its division it was assigned to the 
Presbytery of Onondaga, and on the division of that body, it fell 
under the care of the Presbytery of Cortland, but still, as to its 
internal discipline, retains its Congregational character. 

The first stated supply was a Mr. Jones, who continued but a 
short time. He was succeeded by Rev. Nathan B. Darrow, who 
was ordained and installed pastor of the church Feb. 2d, 1803. 
This was the first instance of ordination by the denomination on 
the Military Tract, and the third of installation. The ordination 
was performed by an ecclesiastical council, composed of ministers 
and delegates from the churches of Aurelius, Geneva, Owasco, 
Lisle, Pompey, Clinton, and Cazenovia. In this council we find 
brethren of the Congregational, Presbyterian, and Reformed Dutch 
denominations harmoniously uniting in one of the most important 
acts which concern the due organization of the church. Mr. Dar- 
row continued, as the author believes, about six years, when he 
was dismissed and removed to the State of Ohio. He was succeeded 
by Rev. Elnathan Walker, who was ordained and installed Oct. 
25th, 1809. Mr. Walker continued in the pastorate till his decease, 
June 4th, 1820. Rev. John Keep was his successor, and was 
installed Nov. 7th, 1821. He was dismissed Oct. 3d, 1833. The 
next pastor of the church was Rev. Dennis Piatt, who was installed 
March 12th, 1834. He continued till August 15th, 1842, when the 
pastoral relation was dissolved., and on the sixteenth day of Febru- 
ary, 1843, Rev. Thomas K. Fessenden was installed pastor of the 
church, and still continues in that relation. The revival of 1798 
has already been noticed. Another was enjoyed in 1806 and '07, 
and during the ministry of Mr. Darrow ninety-five members were 
added to the church. Powerful revivals were experienced in 1812, 
1816, and 1820, during the ministry of Mr. Walker. The last 
resulted from a meeting called by the opponents of Mr. Walker to 
prefer charges against him. The council called embraced, among 
others, Rev. Messrs. Wisner, Axtel, Lansing, Smith, and Truair, 



422 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



who, coming on to the ground, found they could not reach the case 
in the way desired by the opposition. They then commenced a 
labor of love with all present, which was attended by a special 
divine blessing. The leading opponent of Mr. Walker pressed 
through the crowd, and kneeling before Mr. Walker, exclaimed,, 
" Forgive me : I have often prayed about you, but not for you." 
The effect was overwhelming on the congregation, some of whom 
went home deeply convicted. It was during the revival conse- 
quent upon this occasion that Mr. Walker departed this life. 
During his ministry four hundred and seventy-three members were 
added to the church. There were revivals in 1826, 1830, '31, '32„ 
and '33, but, perhaps, not all of them of so happy a character as 
some which had preceded. Five hundred and forty-two members 
were added to the church under the ministry of Mr. Keep. There 
was a revival in 1838 under Mr. Piatt's ministry, as the result of 
which two hundred and eighty-four persons were added to the 
church. There was also a revival in 1843, which brought sixty- 
two additional members into the church. Up to July, 1846, thirteen 
hundred and ninety-four persons had been members of the church, 
of whom four hundred and sixty remained members at that period. 
The church have a house of worship built in 1805, and repaired 
and greatly improved in 1822. It is seventy-two feet in length* 
and of proportional breadth, and will comfortably seat nine hundred 
hearers. It stands on a beautiful square of six acres given to the 
society for public uses. On the same plat stand the Methodist and 
the Episcopal houses of worship, the Academy, and the Congrega- 
tional Conference House. The congregation meeting upon the 
Sabbath may average about five hundred persons. There is a 
Baptist church in the town, which is respectable in number and 
strength. The Methodist society is small, and the Episcopal still 
smaller. The Universalists have a small community which holds 
meetings a part of the time. There is also a small society of 
Methodists in the eastern part of the town. The town of Homer 
has long been considered as containing one of the most substantial 
and church-going, order-loving communities in the region. The 
Congregational church have ever supported their own pastor with- 
out foreign aid, and for a number of years past have contributed 
from eight hundred to a thousand dollars annually in aid of the 
benevolent objects of the day. 

Cortlandmlle. — The town of Cortlandville was formerly the 
southern part of the town of Homer. The village of Cortland,, 
which now numbers more than two hundred houses, in 1813 con- 
tained not more than ten or twelve. The Presbyterian Church 
was constituted principally of members of the church of Homer. 
It was organized probably in 1824 or '25, and was received under 
the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, July 6th, 1825, from which. 



PRESBYTERY OF CORTLAND. 



423 



it was transferred to the Presbytery of Cortland by act of the 
Synod, October 14th, 1834. The number of original members was 
probably small, as in 1827 the whole number of members reported 
as belonging to the church was one hundred and thirty-one, of 
whom one hundred and ten had been received during the year pre- 
ceding. The church seems to have been gradually increasing in 
numbers till in 1846 it was able to report two hundred and forty as 
Its number of members. What amount of ministerial aid it enjoyed 
previous to 1828, is not known to the author. In that year, July 
30th, Rev. Luke Lyons was installed as pastor of the church. In 
this station he continued till June 23d, 1831, when he was dis- 
missed from his pastoral charge. He was succeeded by Rev. 
Nathaniel E. Johnson, who officiated as stated supply about three 
years. After him Rev. Joseph I. Foot was pastor one ortwo years, 
and was succeeded by Rev. Peter Lockwood as stated supply for 
a year or two. In 1843, Rev. Hercules H. Dunham was reported 
as pastor, in which station he still continues. In the year 1832, 
fifty-six members are reported as having been added to the church 
by profession, the preceding year, an indication that the church 
had been blessed with an effusion of the Holy Spirit. This church 
has always supported its own minister without foreign aid. It has 
a commodious house of worship in the village. The Baptists, 
Methodists, and Universalists have also houses of worship in the 
place. 

McGrawville. — This is a small village in the town of Cortland- 
ville. A Presbyterian church was organized, probably in 1834, 
and was received under the care of the Presbytery of Cortland, 
October 15th, of that year. In 1838 it contained sixty members, 
and in 1846, numbered one hundred and eleven. As stated supplies 
under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, 
the following ministers in succession have officiated : Rev. Messrs. 
Seth Smalley, Joseph R. Johnson, Peleg R. Kinne, and Ezra B. 
Fancher, the last of whom commenced his labors in the early part 
of the year 1840, and still continues. Under his ministry in 1845, 
God was pleased in much mercy to pour out his Spirit, and a goodly 
number were hopefully converted unto God. As the result of this 
revival, the church has acquired strength so as to be able to sup- 
port the ministry without foreign aid. The church has a house of 
worship which was dedicated in 1834. The Baptists and Metho- 
dists have each a house of worship in the village. 

Solon. — This church was taken under the care of the Presbytery 
of Cortland, September 11th, 1827, and was reported as consisting 
of fifteen members. Its number of members never increased. It 
was furnished with preaching a part of the time for a year or two, 
and was dissolved, September 18th, 1831. 



424 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Pitcher. — The town of Pitcher originally constituted the central 
part of the town of German. A church was at a pretty early 
period organized in this part of the town, on the principles of the 
Congregational discipline. This church was designated as the 
church of German, afterwards German First Church, and since 
1827 it has been denominated the church of Pitcher. It was ori- 
ginally connected with the Middle Association, afterwards with the 
Presbytery of Onondaga, and subsequently with the Presbytery of 
Cortland. In 1825, it numbered ninety members, and in 1840, one 
hundred and sixty-two. This is the highest number ever reported. 
Rev. Reuben Hurd was installed pastor of this church, July 27th, 
1813. He held the situation a little longer than two years, being 
dismissed September 28th, 1815. From the period of Mr. Hurd's 
dismission to 1825, its history is unknown to the writer. In 1825 
and 1827, it was reported as vacant. From the latter period till 
1846, it is uniformly reported as having a stated supply. What 
ministers have acted in this capacity is not known to the writer, 
except that Rev. Wm. J. Bradford supplied under the patronage 
of the American Home Missionary Society one year, from June, 
1829, and Rev. Isaac F. Adams, two years from October, 1831. In 
1832, fifty-two members are reported as having been added to the 
church by profession the preceding year, and the next year twenty- 
five. It would seem that those were years of revival. This church 
has a house of worship in the village of Pitcher. The Baptist 
church have also a house of worship. 

Cincinnatus and Solon. — This church was received under the 
care of the Presbytery of Cortland, Sept. 14th, 1831, and is reported 
on the minutes of the General Assembly for the next spring, as 
consisting of one hundred and ten members, of whom sixty-one 
were received on profession. The author supposes that it was a 
resuscitation of one or two decayed churches, connected with a 
revival of religion,, and the conversion of souls. In 1836, it reported 
one hundred and sixty-two members, but in 1846, the number was 
reduced to one hundred and thirty. Rev. Oren Catlin was stated 
supply, under the patronage of the American Home Missionary 
Society, one year from October, 1832. Rev. Joseph R. Johnson 
was ordained and installed pastor, Feb. 16th, 1846. He continued 
with the church two or three years, and was dismissed. He was 
succeeded by Rev. Eleazar T. Ball, who was ordained and installed 
pastor of the church, June 8th, 1839. Mr. Ball still continues in 
the pastorate. 

Freetown. — This town comprises the north-western quarter of 
the original town of Cincinnatus. The church was originally 
denominated Cincinnatus First Church, afterwards Freetown. By 
the latter name it is known in the statistical tables of the minutes 



PRESBYTERY OF CORTLAND. 425 

of the General Assembly from 1825. It was received under the 
care of the Presbytery of Onondaga, Sept. 1st, 1812, and, on the 
division of that body, was assigned to the Presbytery of Cortland. 
The number of members, according to the annual reports, has 
varied from twenty-nine to fifty-four. By the last report it was 
forty- four. The report for 1832 gives twenty additions to the 
church by profession the preceding year. The church seems to 
have been always small and feeble, and never to have had a regu- 
larly installed pastor. It has sometimes been reported as statedly 
supplied, and at other times as vacant. By whom it has been 
supplied, is not known to the author, except that Rev. Eleazar Luce 
supplied in 1833 and '34. 

Virgil. — This town was settled at an early period, and visited 
by missionaries like other places in the region around it. A Con- 
gregational Church was organized by Dr. Williston, in 1804 or '05, 
which became connected with the Middle Association, and on the 
division of that body was assigned to the Presbytery of Onondaga. 
From that Presbytery it was, by act of the Synod, transferred to 
the Presbytery of Cayuga, as more convenient in location ; and on 
the erection of the Presbytery of Tioga was assigned to that body. 
In 1835, on request, its connexion was removed to the Presbytery 
of Cortland, with which it is now connected. Of its history till 
1825, the writer is uninformed. At that date it is reported as 
consisting of fifty-nine members, and without a minister. On the 
sixteenth day of November of that year, Rev. Samuel Robinson 
was installed pastor of the churches of Virgil and Dryden. His 
dismission from the church of Virgil probably took place in 1829. 
During his ministry the church was increased from fifty-nine mem- 
bers to about eighty. In 1832, Rev. William Bradford is reported 
as a stated supply. He continued in that capacity three or four 
years. In July, 1836, Rev. Solomon Chafee, under the patronage 
of the American Home Missionary Society, commenced laboring 
as a stated supply with this church, and 'continued about three 
years. During the last year, he reports a revival as having been 
enjoyed. In 1843, Rev. Isaac Headly was reported as a stated 
supply to the church. In November, 1843, Rev. Jeremiah W. 
Walcott was appointed a missionary, by the American Home 
Missionary Society, to labor in this congregation, and his commis- 
sion was renewed the succeeding year. In 1846, the church 
reported ninety-six members, the highest number that they ever 
reported. They have a house of worship which was repaired and 
painted in 1844. The Baptists and Methodists have also houses of 
worship. 

Virgil Second Presbyterian Church. — This church was received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Cortland, Feb. 12th, 1833. It 



426 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



is reported as vacant continually, with the exception of 1837. The 
number of members that year was thirty -one. In 1840, it was 
fifteen. In 1846, it was declared dissolved. 

Harford. — This church has its location in the southern part of 
the town of Virgil. It was organized in the early part of the 
year 1832, and received under the care of the Presbytery of Tioga, 
in April of that year. It was transferred to the Presbytery of 
Cortland by the Synod, Oct. 6th, 1840. It was organized a Pres- 
byterian church, and consisted of thirteen members. In 1843, it 
reported forty-eight members, and in 1846, fifty-four. In 1834, 
Rev. David B. Ripley was stated supply for a part of the time, 
under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, 
and continued his labors for a part of the time, two or three years. 
Rev. H. J. Gaylord was commissioned by the same Society in 
September, 1840, and seems to have continued but part of the year. 
Mr. Joseph D. Baker, a licentiate preacher of the gospel, received 
a commission from the same Society to labor here, in August, 1841. 
It was renewed in each of the two following years. June 8th, 
1842, he was ordained and installed as pastor of the church. He 
was dismissed after a continuance of about two or three years. 
Rev. Joseph S. Lord received a commission from the same Society, 
in Nov. 1846, to minister to this church. At the last period of in- 
formation, the concerns of the church were in a prosperous condi- 
tion. A parsonage had been built, and a house of worship was in 
a course of being built. 

Marathon. — The town of Marathon comprises the south-eastern 
quarter of what was originally the town of Cincinnatus. On the 
south it adjoins the town of Lisle, and on the west, the town of 
Virgil. The church, at its organization, was denominated " The 
Church of the Union Society of Lisle, Cincinnatus, and Virgil." 
The writer supposes that each of these towns furnished members 
for the congregation. Afterwards it was called Cincinnatus 
second ; then Harrison, and more recently, Marathon. It was re- 
ceived under the care of the Presbytery of Onondaga, Sept. 7th, 
1814, and, on the division of that Presbytery, was assigned to Cort- 
land. In 1825, it was reported as consisting of thirty members, 
and as vacant. Probably up to that period it had enjoyed only oc- 
casional preaching and administration of ordinances. The next 
four years it is reported as statedly supplied ; Rev. Matthew Har- 
rison supplied this church, in connexion with another, a part, and 
perhaps the whole of this period. The church seems afterwards 
to have been vacant for two years, and then we find Rev. James 
Blakeslee reported as pastor, two years in succession. Rev. Peleg 
R. Kinne spent one year from February, 1837, with this church, 
under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. 



PRESBYTERY OF CORTLAND. 



427 



He was followed by Rev. William J. Bradford, who supplied a 
part of the time for one or two years. Rev. John A. Avery re- 
ceived a commission from the American Home Missionary Society, 
in April, 1845, to supply this church. His commission was renew- 
ed in 1846. The church has never been large, and seems never to 
have been blessed with any very extensive out-pouring of the 
Holy Spirit. In the year 1832, fifteen members are reported as 
added by profession to the church the preceding year, and in the 
year 1837, ten such additions are reported. In 1832, the whole 
number of members was seventy-two ; in 1840, seventy-five ; 
and in 1846, sixty-two. 

Lisle. — Of the early settlement of this place, the commence- 
ment of religious order in the preaching of Dr. Williston, and the 
organization of a Congregational church, we have spoken in a 
former chapter. Dr. Williston says it was organized in 1797, or 
the beginning of next year. The present pastor of the church 
says it was in 1799. At its organization it consisted of sixteen 
members, of whom eleven were received as new members on pro- 
fession, the fruits of a revival which had been enjoyed the year 
previous. In 1836, it numbered one hundred and twenty members, 
and at the commencement of 1848, about ninety. At the or- 
ganization of the Susquehannah Association, this church became 
connected with that body. After the dissolution of the Association, 
it was received under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, 
August 18th, 1813. It was dismissed from its connexion with that 
judicatory, July 5th, 1820, and united with the Union Association, 
Sept. 5th, of the same year. In this connexion it continued till 
the dissolution of the Association. In the month of April, 1834, it 
was received under the care of the Presbytery of Cortland, with 
which it is still connected. Of Dr. Williston's early labors in this 
place we have already spoken. In 1801, he became stationary at 
Lisle, was installed pastor of the church in October, 1803, and 
continued in that relation till some time in 1809, when he was re- 
leased from his pastoral charge, and soon afterwards left Western 
New York. During the continuance of his pastorate at Lisle he 
performed missionary service in the vicinity a part of the time in 
the destitute places around him. Rev. Henry Ford succeeded Dr. 
Williston in the pastorate of this church. He was installed, Oct. 
27th, 1813, and continued till March 7th, 1820, when the relation 
was dissolved. Since the dismission of Mr. Ford, Rev. Azariah 
G. Orton, Rev. John B. Hoyt, Rev. J. M. Babbitt, Rev. John N. 
Lewis, and some others, have officiated as pastors or as stated 
supplies. Mr. Orton officiated two years as stated supply from 
May, 1835 ; Mr. Babbitt, three years from Jan. 1839. Mr. Lewis 
commenced in 1843, and still continues. He is the regularly in- 
stalled pastor of the church. In the support of the three last 



428 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



mentioned the church has been aided by the American Home Mis- 
sionary Society. It has enjoyed numerous seasons of revival, yet 
its number of members is not large, in consequence of the dismis- 
sion of so many members to form other churches in the vicinity. 
The Presbyterian church of Barker, the Congregational church of 
Triangle, and the Congregational church of Yorkshire, or Lisle 
West, have all been taken from this church. A house of worship, 
many years since, was erected at a place called the Centre, but in 
consequence of the organization of new churches, the place ceased 
to be central to the congregation, and a new house, some years 
since, was erected at the place called Whitney's Point, and the two 
houses are used alternately by the congregation. 

The strong, orthodox doctrinal preaching of Dr. Williston, un- 
der God, gave a character to this church which it has not lost. 
Those who have succeeded him have mostly pursued the same 
course of preaching. As the consequence of this, the members of 
the church have been well indoctrinated, united in the belief of the 
truth and importance of the Calvinistic faith, and unmoved by any 
ancient or modern novelties in doctrine or measures. They are at 
peace among themselves. 



429 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

Presbytery of Tioga :— Centre Lisle, Richford, Berkshire, Newark, Newark Second 
Church, Candor, Spencer, Newfield Second Church, Veteran, Union First Congre- 
gational, Union, Binghampton, Binghampton Congregational, Castle Creek, Conk- 
lin, East Owego, Owego, Tioga, Nichols. 

We shall in this chapter narrate the history of the churches 
which have been connected with 

THE PRESBYTERY OF TIOGA. 

Beginning at the north-eastern angle, we commence with 

Lisle Centre. — This church in the reports of the Presbytery was 
for several years denominated Lisle West, and afterwards Centre 
Lisle. The author supposes that it is the same church which, in 
our history of the church of Lisle, is denominated the Congrega- 
tional Church of Yorkshire. It was composed at its organization of 
members taken from the original church of Lisle. At what time it 
was organized is not known to the writer. It was received under 
the care of the Presbytery of Tioga, Sept. 22d, 1830, and on its 
request was dismissed in 1837, to join a Congregational Association. 
What body it is now connected with, if any, is not known to the 
writer. In 1831, it reported twenty-two members, and in 1837, 
seventy-seven. In 1832, Rev. Henry Ford was reported stated 
supply ; in 1833, '34, and '37, Rev. Seth Burt. In the support of 
Mr. Burt the last year, the church was aided by the American 
Home Missionary Society. Rev. Alvan D. French, by the same 
Society, was commissioned to labor in the congregation in April, 
1844, and his commission was renewed the succeeding year. He 
reported that the church was in a revived state. 

Richford. — The settlement of this town commenced near the 
close of the last century, and the town derived its name from Mr. 
Rich, who was one of the first settlers. At what period the church 
was organized is not known to the writer. He supposes it to be 
the church which was taken under the care of the Presbytery of 
Cayuga, Jan. 21st, 1823, then designated as North Berkshire, and 
transferred to the Presbytery of Tioga on the organization of that 
body. In 1825, it numbered fifty-one members ; in 1831, eighty- 
seven, and in 1846, fifty-eight. * Rev. Henry Ford officiated as 



430 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



stated supply two years from May, 1827. He was succeeded by 
Rev. David S. Morse, who, as stated supply or pastor, has minis- 
tered to the church most of the time to the present period. He 
was installed pastor, June 14th, 1843. There have been two inter- 
vals in the labors of Mr. Morse, the first of which was supplied by 
Rev. David B. Ripley, and the last by Rev. S. A. McEwen. In 
the support of all these, the church has been aided by the Ameri- 
can Home Missionary Society. In 1830, the church was blessed 
with a revival, and forty-five hopeful converts were reported. In 
1844, some measure of the influences of the Divine Spirit was enjoy- 
ed, and additions made to the church. The church has an appro- 
priate house of worship. There is another in the village belonging 
to the Episcopalians. 

Berkshire. — This church was formed in 1833, by a colony of 
eighty individuals dismissed from the church of Newark for the 
purpose. The church was received under the care of the Presby- 
tery of Tioga, Jan. 17th, 1839. In 1840, it numbered one hundred 
and forty-four members, and in 1846 the same number was re- 
ported. Rev. William Bradford was ordained and installed pastor, 
Jan. 18th, 1839, and was dismissed, March 1st, 1841. Rev. Peter 
Lock wood was installed pastor, April 12th, 1843, and still remains 
to fill the station. The church has an appropriate house of wor- 
ship, and there is another, belonging to the Methodist denomina- 
tion. 

Newark. — The settlement of this town, originally known by the 
appellation of Brown's Settlement, commenced in 1791, by Elisha 
Wilson, Daniel Ball, Isaac Brown, and Abraham Brown, who emi- 
grated from Stockbridge, Mass. The next year they were fol- 
lowed by others from the same place. In 1800, Doctor Joseph 
Waldo and Deacon Nathaniel Ford moved in, and were instru- 
mental in instituting public worship, which from that period has 
been regularly maintained. The early settlers were a church-going 
people, and were regular in their attendance, coming to the place of 
worship — some on foot, some on horseback, and some in ox-carts. 
A church of the Congregational order, consisting of Doctor Joseph 
Waldo, Deacon Nathaniel Ford, Jesse Gleazen, Levi Baily, Beulah 
Brown, and Caroline Ford, was organized by Rev. Seth Williston 
and Rev. James W. Woodward, missionaries from Connecticut. 
This took place, November 17th, 1803. Four additional members 
were received the next Sabbath. The church was received under 
the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, September 11th, 1811. It 
was then denominated the church of Western. The name was 
soon after changed to Berkshire, and on the division of the town of 
Berkshire, it became the church of Newark. In 1819, it consisted 
of forty-nine members; in 1826, 106; in 1832,241 ; and in 1846, 



PRESBYTERY OF TIOGA. 



431 



155. The first pastor of the church was Rev. Jeremiah Osborne, 
who was ordained and installed pastor, February 18th, 1806. He 
continued in the pastorate till January 27th, 1819, when the relation 
was dissolved. The present pastor, Rev. Marcus Ford, was or- 
dained and installed into the pastoral office, December 13th, 1820. 

In the autumn of 1819, a gentle refreshing from the presence of 
the Lord was experienced, as the fruits of which forty-eight mem- 
bers were added to the church during that and the following year. 
In 1827, a season of more than usual interest was enjoyed, which 
added fourteen members to the church by profession. In the 
winter of 1830-31, a glorious work of the Holy Spirit was witnessed, 
as the result of which, on the first Sabbath of April, 1831, 107 per- 
sons were received to the communion of the church on their pro- 
fession of faith in Christ, and from thirty to forty others in the 
course of the year. At several seasons since there have been 
periods of more than ordinary interest felt relating to the concerns 
of salvation, and additions have been made to the church. This 
church has always supported its pastor without foreign aid. A 
small house for public worship was erected as early as 1803 or 
1804. In 1817 or 1818, the first house not being sufficient for the 
increasing congregation, a new and commodious edifice, fifty-five 
feet in length and forty-five in breadth, was reared upon the site of 
the former. In 1832, it was removed three miles from its original 
location to the centre of the present town of Newark. The 
churches of Richford, Berkshire, and Newark second church, were 
formed by detachments from this church. The people generally 
living within a convenient distance attend public worship. There 
is a Methodist society in the town considerable for numbers. They 
have a respectable house of worship which was erected in 1832. 

Newark Second Church. — The location of this church is in the 
western part of the town of Newark, adjoining the town of Candor. 
It was formed in 1823 of members dismissed from the church of 
Newark for the purpose of a new organization. It was received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Tioga, January 20th, 1824, then 
denominated the church of Candor and Westville. In 1833, it took 
the name of Newark second church. It has always been small and 
feeble. In 1825, it numbered twenty members ; in 1833, fifty-one ; 
and in 1846, only twenty-three. It has for most of the time since 
its organization, through the aid of the American Home Missionary 
Society, been supplied, generally in connexion with some other 
church, with stated administration of gospel ordinances. As stated 
supplies, Rev. Zenas Riggs officiated five years from February, 
1826; Rev. Moses Jewell one year from May, 1837; Rev. Samuel 
Scott five or six years from January, 1839 ; and Rev. Joel Jewell 
from November, 1846, to the present time. In 1832, sixteen mem- 
bers were reported as having been added to the church by profes- 



432 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



sion the previous years, indicating that the church had been blessed 
with a measure of gracious influence from on high. 

Candor. — The settlement of this town was begun in 1793, by 
Joel Smith, Elijah Smith, Collins Ludington, Thomas Hollister, and 
Job Judd, from the town of Berlin (Conn.). The mass of the early 
settlers were from that town, and the town of Farmington in the 
same State. Public worship was commenced before the year 1800, 
and with short intervals has continued ever since. A Congrega- 
tional church with nine members, was organized by Rev. Seth 
Williston and Rev. Jeremiah Osborne, June 29th, 1808. This 
church was received under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, 
July 7th, 1813, and was transferred to the Presbytery of Tioga on 
the organization of that body. In 1827 the church reported sixty- 
eight members ; in 1833, one hundred and twenty-two ; in 1843, 
one hundred and ninety-nine; and in 1846, one hundred and sixty- 
three. The first pastor was Rev. Daniel Loring, who was settled 
in 1810, and dismissed Feb. 20th, 1816. After his dismission Rev. 
John Bascom was stated supply a few months, and the church was 
then vacant for a season, occasionally supplied by Rev. Samuel 
Parker and Rev. Jeremiah Osborne. Mr. Osborne was installed pas- 
tor of the church Sept. 15th, 1819. His dismission took place Sept. 
21st, 1831. Rev. Alfred White succeeded him as stated supply 
for six months, who was followed by Rev. Samuel Shaffer for a 
similar period. Rev. Zenas Riggs was installed pastor of the 
church June 18th, 1833. He was dismissed Oct. 6th, 1841. Rev. 
Edwin Benedict, the present pastor, commenced labor with the 
church in February, 1842, and was ordained and installed pastor, 
Sept. 20th, of the same year. Several seasons of special religious 
interest were enjoyed during the ministry of Mr. Osborne, adding 
considerably to the number of members in the church. Such sea- 
sons, connected with protracted meetings, were enjoyed during the 
ministry of Mr. Riggs. In the year 1834, fifty-five members were 
reported as having been added the previous year by profession. 
Since the settlement of the present pastor, two precious seasons of 
revival have been enjoyed, adding a goodly number to the com- 
munion of the church. 

The church was organized a Congregational church. In 1821 it 
adopted the Presbyterian form of government, with a little modifi- 
cation, and such remains the mode of discipline to the present time. 
In the support of its ministers it has received no foreign aid. At an 
early period a small house of worship was erected, which in 1825 
was exchanged for the present commodious edifice, which on the 
ground floor will seat nearly three hundred persons, and in the spa- 
cious gallery many more. The ordinary congregation upon the 
Sabbath is large for a country place, and an evangelical influence 
prevails throughout the town. The Methodist denomination have 



PRESBYTERY OF TIOGA. 



433 



a house of worship in the village, with which a large congregation 
is connected. The Episcopalians also have a house of worship, 
and a rector who supplies two congregations. Their number of 
members is but small. 

Spencer. — Respecting the settlement of this town, the writer has 
no information, nor does he know when the Presbyterian church 
was organized. It was received under the care of the Presbytery 
of Cayuga, Feb. 20th, 1816, and was transferred to the Presbytery 
of Tioga on the formation of that body. In 1825, its number of 
members was sixty-seven ; in 1834, one hundred and eight; and in 
1846, one hundred and fifty-five. What ministerial aid the church 
enjoyed previous to 1827, the writer knows not. In March of that 
year, Rev. Gardiner K. Clark was commissioned by the American 
Home Missionary Society to labor in this congregation. He con- 
tinued his ministry with them, under the patronage of the Society, 
four or five years. Rev. David L Perry, under the same patronage, 
commenced labor in January, 1833, and was installed pastor of the 
church Oct. 22d, of the same year. He was dismissed from his 
pastoral charge, Jan. 13th, 1835. He was succeeded by Rev. 
Isaac Headly, one or two years, after which Mr. Clark returned to 
the congregation, and has continued to officiate as stated supply to 
the present period. Several seasons of revival have been enjoyed 
by this church. In the year 1832, seventeen members were reported 
as having been added by profession the year previous, and in 1840 
forty-five are reported as the -additions by profession for the pre- 
ceding year. The church has an appropriate house of worship, 
which was built in 1829. The Methodist denomination have also 
a house of worship in the village. 

Newfield Second Church. — This church was received on its or- 
ganization under the care of the Presbytery of Tioga, Sept. 15th, 
1834. It was small and feeble, and continued in this condition for 
a few years, and then became extinct, its members uniting with 
other churches in the vicinity. 

Veteran. — A Presbyterian church denominated the Second Pres- 
byterian Church of Catharine, was organized in this place, and re- 
ceived under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, Jan. 22d, 1822. 
At the organization of the Presbytery of Tioga it was assigned to 
that body. Twenty-four is the only number of members found in 
any of the Presbyterial reports, and it is uniformly reported as va- 
cant. It, however, did enjoy some ministerial aid. Rev. Richard 
Williams labored here for a 'season. Rev. James Boyle, under the 
patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, labored here 
and in the vicinity in 1828 and 1829, and Rev. Alfred White under 
the same patronage, in 1832. But the church never was in a pros- 

28 



434 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



perous state, and soon after a church was organized at Horse 
Heads, the church of Veteran became amalgamated with it, and so 
lost its separate existence. Its name for the last time is found on 
the Presbyterial report for the year 1832. 

Union First Congregational Church. — The author supposes that 
this is the church which has its location in the little village of Main 
in the town of Union. Until 1833 it was designated as the church 
of Nanticoke. At what period it was organized is not known to 
the writer. The author believes that it was originally connected 
with the Luzerne Association, and when that body was merged in 
the Presbytery of Susquehannah, this church became connected 
with that Presbytery. By an act of the General Assembly in May, 
1831, it was transferred to the Presbytery of Tioga. In 1825 it 
numbered fifty-four members, in 1833 one hundred and ninety-nine 
members, and in 1841 one hundred and sixteen. Rev. Oliver Hill 
was for several years pastor of this church. He was so reported 
in 1836, and continued in that relation till 1830 or 1831. Rev. 
Nahum Gould seems to have been a stated supply one or two 
years, and after him Rev. Henry Ford for a season. In 1843 or 
1844, Rev. James Blakeslee became stated supply, and still con- 
tinues in that capacity. Under the ministry of Mr. Hill at two 
different periods there appears to have been a measure of revival, 
and a considerable addition was made to the church. In 1832 and 
1833, more than one hundred members were added by profession 
to the church. The church has been aided by the American Home 
Missionary Society three years in the support of Mr. Hill, and in 
the support of Mr. Blakeslee since May, 1844. The church has 
an appropriate house of worship. The Baptist denomination have 
also a house of worship in the village of Main. 

Union. — The settlement of this town commenced about sixty 
years since by emigrants chiefly from New Jersey, but intermixed 
with some from New England. A church of the Reformed Dutch 
denomination was organized here at an early period, and a house 
of worship erected as early as 1796. This is supposed to be the 
first edifice erected expressly for the worship of God west of Kort- 
right, in the southern tier of counties in the State of New York. 
Rev. Mr. Manly was their first minister, and after him Rev. Mr. 
Palmer. After the labors of Mr. Palmer terminated, the church 
diminished in number. Many of its members removed to other 
parts, and their places were supplied by others of a different deno- 
mination. A Presbyterian church, consisting of fourteen members, 
was organized July 17th, 1822, by Rev. Messrs. Benjamin Niles, 
Horatio J. Lombard, and Marcus Ford, acting with their delegates 
as a committee of the Presbytery of Cayuga. In this organization 
the remnant of the Reformed Dutch Church was merged. This 



PRESBYTERY OF TIOGA. 



435 



church was received under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, 
Jan. 21st, 1823, and was transferred to the Presbytery of Tioga on 
the organization of that body. In 1830, this church numbered one 
hundred and four members ; in 1833, two hundred and sixty-six; 
and in 1841, two hundred and twenty. The church enjoyed for 
several years the ministry of stated supplies, each for a short period. 
Rev. Messrs. Judd, Whiton, and Solomon, Ward are named as 
having so officiated. Rev. John W. Ward was ordained and 
installed pastor of the church Jan. 20th, 1824. He was dismissed 
Oct. 12th, 1831. Soon after the dismission of Mr. Ward, Rev. Ira 
Smith was employed as stated supply, and continued as such till 
1833. Rev. Jonathan M. Rowland was pastor in June, 1834, and 
his pastoral relation was dissolved Nov. 13th, 1840. Rev. Hemin- 
way J. Gaylord commenced labor in 1841, was installed pastor of 
the church May 26th, 1842, and was dismissed from his pastoral 
charge June 11th, 1847. 

A revival of unusual power and extent visited the church at the 
very commencement of Mr. Ward's ministrations, and so long as 
he remained the pastor, tokens of divine presence were frequent, 
so that scarcely a sacramental occasion passed without accessions 
to the church from the ranks of the world. A protracted meeting- 
was held in the second year of Mr. Smith's ministry with the 
church, conducted by Rev. Jedidiah Burchard. At the closing up 
of his effort, one hundred and sixteen members were added to the 
church. In the judgment of the Session, it is said, this was more 
an addition of numerical than of spiritual strength. During the 
connexion of Mr. Rowland with the church, two or three refreshings 
were enjoyed, adding somewhat to the number and moral energy 
of the flock. Under the ministry of Mr. Gaylord in 1843, a season 
of divine influence was enjoyed, as the result of which about thirty 
were added to the church. 

This church has ever supported its ministers without foreign aid. 
It has a very commodious and spacious house of worship, erected 
in 1822. A Methodist Church, small in comparison, occupies in 
part the same territory, between which and the Presbyterian 
Church, a good degree of charitable and fraternal feeling exists. 

Binghamton. — Of the settlement of this place, and the commence- 
ment of religious worship and institutions by the organization of 
the Baptist and Reformed Dutch churches, we have already spoken. 
About the year 1815, Rev. Hezekiah May preached in this place 
for a season. He was followed in 1816 by Rev. Benjamin Niles y 
then a licentiate. A revival immediately took place, and some 
hopeful conversions occurred. A church of the Congregational 
order, consisting of twenty members, of whom seventeen were 
females, was organized by Rev. Ebenezer Kingsbury and Rev. 
Joseph Wood. This took place in 1817. The church after its- 



436 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



organization, as the writer believes, became connected with the 
Luzerne Association, and with that body was merged in the 
Presbytery of Susquehannah. From that Presbytery it was 
received under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, July 2d, 
1822, and on the division of that Presbytery was assigned to the 
Presbytery of Tioga. The church changed its form of government 
for that of the Presbyterian church, probably, about the time it 
became connected with the Presbytery of Susquehannah. In 1823, 
the church had increased to the number of sixty-seven members. 
In 1829, it numbered one hundred and fifty ; in 1833, four hundred 
and fifty-one ; and in 1846, three hundred and twenty. At the 
time of the organization of the church, Mr. Niles was their preacher. 
In 1818, he was ordained and installed pastor of the church. This 
station he held till his death, which occurred, July 25th, 1828. Rev. 
Peter Lockwood was installed colleague pastor with Mr. Niles, 
Dec. 5th, 1827, Mr. Niles' state of health being such that he was 
unable to perform the duties of the pastorate. After Mr. Niles' 
decease, Mr. Lockwood continued sole pastor of the church till 
April, 1833, when the relation was dissolved. He was succeeded 
by Rev. Lewis D. Howell, who was installed pastor, Nov. 14th, 
1833, and dismissed, Sept. 17th, 1834. Rev. John Fowler succeeded 
him as stated supply for a season, and was followed by Rev. John 
A. Nash, who was installed as pastor, Oct. 20th, 1836, and dismissed, 
April 17th, 1838. Rev. David D. Gregory was installed Sept. 
11th, 1839, and still continues in the pastorate. Towards the close 
of Mr. Niles' ministry, the church was blessed with an extensive 
revival of religion, adding a goodly number to the church. The 
period of Mr. Lockwood's ministry was particularly a period of 
revivals in the church of Binghamton. Sixteen was the smallest 
number reported in any one year as added to the church on a 
profession of faith in Christ. In the year 1832, ninety were reported 
as so added, and the next year one hundred and eighty-three. 
Under the ministry of Mr. Gregory, two extensive revivals have 
been enjoyed, adding largely to the number of members in the 
church. In 1846, four of the sons of this church were employed 
in the labors of the ministry, one of whom was destined to the 
foreign field, and three or four were in a course of preparation for 
the ministerial office. 

This church has always supported its ministers without foreign 
aid, and for a number of years past, has contributed annually from 
seven to eight hundred dollars for benevolent purposes. Their 
house of worship was erected of wood in 1819, and was originally 
fifty feet in length by forty in breadth, but by two several enlarge- 
ments, it is now sixty-six feet in length and sixty in breadth. The 
congregation attending worship on the Sabbath, varies from three 
hundred to five hundred hearers. It may at times amount to six 
hundred. It is the largest congregation in the village. Two 



PRESBYTERY OF TIOGA. 



437 



churches have been formed from this, the Presbyterian Church of 
Castle Creek, and the Congregational Church in the village v 

Binghamton Congregational Church. — This church was orga- 
nized of members taken from the Presbyterian church in 1836. 
It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Tioga 
in April, 1839. In 1843, it consisted of twenty-nine members. 
It now numbers about seventy-five. Before the installation of 
a pastor, Rev. Mr. Starkweather and Rev. Arthur Burtis officiat- 
ed as stated supplies for a season. Rev. Samuel W. Bush was 
installed pastor, Dec. 24th, 1839. He remained with the church 
till Feb. 20th, 1844, when the pastoral relation was dissolved. 
Rev. Samuel \V. Brace then officiated as stated supply two or three 
years. Rev. Dennis Piatt succeeded him, and was installed pas- 
tor of the church, Oct. 20th, 1847. This church, though small, 
seems not to have received the aid of any Missionary Society in 
the support of its ministers. The church possesses considerable 
wealth, and has a beautiful house of worship. 

Besides the Presbyterian and Congregational churches, the 
Episcopal Methodists, the Episcopalians, the Baptists, the Protest- 
ant Methodists, and two colored Societies of Methodists, have 
churches in the village. The Universalists, in 1846, had an edi- 
fice for public worship in course of being erected, but no stated 
preaching. The Roman Catholics have a mass-house, and the 
services of a priest a part of the time. They have a Female 
Seminary in the village, in which the daughters of Protestant 
parents are instructed. 

Castle Creek. — This village is situated in the town of Chenango. 
The part of the town in which it was situated was settled in 1813 
by Lyman King, Thomas West, Josiah West, Benjamin West, 
Daniel Bishop, and Foster Lilly. A Presbyterian church, consist- 
ing of twenty-three members taken from the church of Bingham- 
ton, was organized, Dec. 3d, 1833, by Rev. Messrs. Lewis D. 
Howell and Nahum Gould, acting as a Committee of the Tioga 
Presbytery. The church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery, April 16th, 1834. In 1846, it consisted of fifty-nine 
members. The church has always been small and feeble. It has 
never had a regularly installed pastor, but generally has been sup- 
plied with ministerial aid, at least a part of the time. Rev. Peter 
Lockwood and Rev. Francis Janes supplied one year each, for 
half of the time. Rev. Seth Burt followed them for eighteen 
months the whole of the time. Rev. Henry Ford then supplied 
a part of the time till 1840. Rev. Samuel W. Leonard com- 
menced laboring here in Oct. 1840, and continued till the spring 
of 1843. Rev. Joseph Davidson succeeded him, and labored the 
whole of the time for one year. In the autumn of 1844, Mr. 



438 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Leonard resumed his labors, and still continues as stated supply. 
Under the labors of these ministers several refreshing seasons of 
revival have been enjoyed, but none of special note. The church 
has been aided by the American Home Missionary Society several 
years in the support of Messrs. Burt, Leonard, and Davidson. It 
does not appear to have received any aid since 1843. A house of 
worship forty feet in length and thirty in breadth, with a gallery 
and belfry, was erected in 1839, and finished the next year. 

There is a Baptist church in the place, which was organized in 
1817, and numbers nearly one hundred members. Rev. Caleb 
Hays has ministered to this church about twenty-eight years. 
There is also a Methodist Society, which in number is about equal 
to the Presbyterian church. These denominations have each a 
house of worship. 

Conklin. — The name of this church is first found in the Annual 
Report of the Presbytery of Susquehannah for 1826. On the or- 
ganization of the Presbytery of Montrose it was transferred to 
that Presbytery, from which it was, in April, 1842, transferred to 
the Presbytery of Tioga. In 1827, it was reported as consisting 
of thirteen members. In 1836, it numbered forty-seven ; and in 
1846, thirty-six. Till 1829 it was uniformly reported as vacant. 
In August of that year, Rev. J. M. Babbitt received a commission 
from the American Home Missionary Society to labor here one 
fourth of the time for one year, which labor he fulfilled. In 1835, 
under the same patronage, Rev. A. M'Reynolds supplied one year, 
and in 1838, Rev. A. R. Raymond was commissioned for one year 
to supply two congregations. In October, 1842, Rev. John G. 
Lowe was commissioned by the Society to supply this church. 
He was installed as pastor, July 20th, 1843, but was dismissed and 
left the church, April 9th, 1844. Rev. H. O. Howland,in Septem- 
ber, 1845, received a commission to labor here as stated supply 
one year. He reported a revival as having been enjoyed, and 
sixteen hopeful conversions as the result. This is all the informa- 
tion w r hich the writer possesses. 

East Owego. — This church was received on its organization 
under the care of the Presbytery of Tioga, in September, 1838. 
This is all the information which the writer has respecting it, ex- 
cept, that in September, 1839, Rev. Eleazar Luce received a com- 
mission under the American Home Missionary Society to labor 
there for one year. 

Owego. — Of the early settlement of this place we have spoken in 
a former chapter. It was nearly twenty years after the settlement 
of the place commenced, before stated public worship was estab- 
lished. Owego long sustained the character of an irreligious place, 



PRESBYTERY OF TIOGA. 



439 



in which the fear of God had little influence. An occasional 
sermon from an itinerating missionary, or a short visit from some 
minister, constituted the whole amount of public worship. The re- 
ligious interests of the community were neglected. A venerated 
correspondent observes, "They appeared quite early to have a 
praying Hannah" (referring to Mrs. Pixley, of whom mention was 
made in a former chapter), " but it was a long time before they 
had any Jacob, any man to interest himself in their religious con- 
cerns, and take a lead in their meetings. At length Deacon Jones, 
a man educated under Dr. West, of Stockbridge (Mass.), moved 
into the place, though not into the village. He carried on religious 
meetings on the Sabbath with regularity before they settled a 
minister, unless they had sometimes a minister to preach to them." 
During a considerable part of this long period, Rev. Dr. Williston, 
in the capacity of a missionary, occasionally visited them and 
labored. In the summer of 1 804, and probably the preceding winter, 
Rev. William Clark was employed to preach in the village. But 
no church was organized till July 24th, 1817. On that day a Con- 
gregational church, consisting of eleven members, was constituted 
by Rev. Messrs. Hezekiah May, Jeremiah Osborn, and William 
Wisner. In July, 1831, the church adopted the Presbyterian form 
of government in full, and elected ruling elders. The church was 
taken under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, August 20th, 
1817, and was transferred to the Presbytery of Tioga on the orga- 
nization of that body. In 1826, it numbered seventy members ; in 
1830, one hundred and thirty- seven ; and in 1843, two hundred and 
ninety-one. Between the time of Mr. Clark's leaving the place and 
1810, Rev. Messrs. Adams and Burbank were severally employed 
to preach for a season. From August, 1810, to December, 1812, 
Rev. Daniel Loring was employed to preach to the congregation. 
Rev. Hezekiah May preached a part of the years 1817 and 1818. 
Rev. Horatio J. Lombard was ordained and installed pastor of the 
church, October 28th, 1818, and continued to sustain that relation 
till August 21st, 1827, when he was dismissed from his charge. 
Rev. Aaron Putnam was his successor. He was installed, Dec. 6th, 
1827, and released by death, Dec. 28th, 1831. Rev. Charles White, 
the present Dr. White, President of Wabash College (Ind.), was 
installed pastor of the church, April 19th, 1832, and dismissed May 
25th, 1841. Rev. Samuel C. Wilcox was installed pastor, May 
24th, 1832, and was dismissed, April 30th, 1846. After his dismis- 
sion Rev. Seth Williston, D.D., was employed as a stated supply 
six months. Rev. Philip C. Hay, D.D., was installed the pastor of 
the church, April 15th, 1847. Under the labors of these pastors 
the church has been greatly blessed, and the character of the vil- 
lage entirely changed. Revivals of religion have been enjoyed in 
1827, 1830, 1831, 1832, 1833, 1837, and 1838. Some of these were 
of great power, and brought large accessions to the church of those 



440 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



who were born again. The church has never been aided in the 
support of its ministers by any Missionary Society. It has an ap- 
propriate house of worship erected in 1820. It was originally fifty- 
three feet in length and forty-four in breadth. In 1831, an addition 
of twenty feet was made to the length. It is thought that one-sixth 
Qf the population of the village and vicinity are in the habit of 
attending worship with the church. The other denominations in 
the village which have regular organizations, are, the Baptists, the 
Methodists, and the Episcopalians. Each of these has an appro- 
priate house of worship. The Baptists and Methodists are each as 
numerous as the Presbyterians. The Episcopalians are less nume- 
rous than either of the others. 

Tioga. — This church was received under the care of the Pres- 
bytery of Tioga in April, 1844. In 1836, it numbered fifty-six 
members. In May, 1844, Rev. Samuel Scott was commissioned 
by the American Home Missionary Society to labor here one half 
of the time for one year. In October, 1845, Rev. John Gibbs re- 
ceived a similar commission. The author has no further informa- 
tion respecting this church. 

Nichols. — This church was organized a Presbyterian church, 
and received under the care of the Presbytery of Tioga, Nov. 13th, 
1833. In 1834, the church consisted of thirty-nine members. In 
1836, it numbered fifty-one. This is the last account which the 
writer has seen. Rev. Ira Smith was installed pastor of the church, 
Dec. 10th, 1833, and through the aid of the American Home 
Missionary Society continued till April 14th, 1836, when he was 
dismissed. From that period the church seems to have been 
vacant till Oct., 1844, when, under the patronage of the Home Mis- 
sionary Society, Rev. John Gibbs became their stated supply. His 
commission was renewed the next year, and his field enlarged so 
as to embrace also the church of Tioga. Mr. Smith left the field 
at the close of the year. What is the present state of the church 
is not known to the writer. 



441 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

Presbytery of Chemung :— Reading, Havanna, Catlin, Mead's Creek, Campbell, Horn- 
by, Millport, Fairport, Elmira, Elmira Congregational, Chemung, Athens, South- 
port, Big Flats, Corning, Painted Post First Church, Painted Post Second Church, 
Painted Post Village, Erwin, Addison, Thurston, Woodhull, Troupsburgh, Green- 
wood. 

We shall next proceed to narrate the history of the churches 
connected with 

THE PRESBYTERY OF CHEMUNG. 

Reading. — The village of Jefferson, where this church has its 
location, is situated at the head of the Seneca lake, partly in the 
town of Reading, in the county of Steuben, partly in the town of 
Dix, in the county of Chemung, and partly in the town of Hector, 
in the county of Tompkins. The town of Dix was formerly a 
part of the town of Catharines. The organization of the church 
was prior to the existence of anything which might be denominated 
a village, at the head of the lake, and as the members resided, some 
in the town of Reading and others in the town of Catharines, the 
church was denominated the Church of Reading and Catharines. 
At a subsequent period, it was denominated in the reports of the 
Presbytery, Reading Second, but since 1827, simply, Reading. It 
might, perhaps, with more propriety be denominated, " The Church 
of Jefferson." The church was organized in 1818, as the writer 
believes, by Rev. David Higgins, and was received under the care 
of the Presbytery of Bath, Jan. 26th, 1819. By an act of the 
Synod, October, 1846, it was transferred to the Presbytery of 
Chemung. In 1825, this church consisted of twenty-three members. 
In 1833, it numbered fifty-two ; in 1834, eighty-two ; and in 1836, 
eighty-seven members. In 1843, it reported only thirty-four. This 
is the last report that the writer finds. Its place of worship for a 
number of years was at a small village in the town of Reading, 
called Irelandville. For a number of years past, it has been at the 
village of Jefferson, where an appropriate house of worship was 
erected in the northern part of the village, about the year 1833 or 
'34, which has since been relinquished, and a better one erected on 
the flat, in a better location. The church has never had a regularly 
settled pastor ; but as stated supplies, Rev. Messrs. Daniel Wash- 
burn, Richard Williams, David Harrowar, Samuel White, Egbert 
Roosa, Royal West, Samuel Scott, and Isaac T. Stryker, have 



442 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



officiated at different times for longer or shorter periods. In the 
support of the five last named, the church was aided by the Ameri- 
can Home Missionary Society. In the year 1833, twenty-one 
members, in the year following, twenty, and in the year 1836, 
sixteen are reported as having been added to the church by profes- 
sion, indicating that those years were, to some extent, years of 
revival. 

Havanna. — This village is located in the town of Catharines on 
the Chemung canal, about three miles south of the head of Seneca 
lake. The plat of the village was laid out in 1827 for George 
Mills, who had lived on the ground since 1790, and David Lee. On 
this plat, Hiram Jackson, Esq., erected the first house. The region 
around had been settled many years. David Ayres came on in 
1828, and made a new plan of part of the village. From the 
commencement of the settlement of the village, public worship 
was set up by the Methodist denomination. The Presbyterian 
Church, consisting of twenty-two members, was organized, Feb. 
18th, 1829, by Rev. Samuel White and Rev. Eleazar Lathrop, a 
committee of the Presbytery of Bath. Of the members of the 
church, seventeen were received by letter, and five by profession. 
Its present number is about one hundred members. It was received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Bath, August 31st, 1830, and 
on the division of that Presbytery, was assigned to the Presbytery 
of Chemung. For a number of years the church was either vacant, 
or had a new minister almost every year. As stated supplies for 
brief periods, Rev. Messrs. Jabez Chadwick, James Boyle, Samuel 
White, Charles Goodrich, Elijah Buck, Henry Boynton, and Peter 
L. De St. Croix, officiated successively. Rev. Henry Clark was 
ordained and installed pastor of the church, Nov. 9th, 1841. He 
was dismissed from his pastoral charge, Sept. 6th, 1842. The 
present pastor, Rev. Morrison Huggins, commenced preaching to 
the congregation in September, 1842, and was ordained and installed, 
June 14th, 1803. This church has enjoyed one or two precious 
seasons of revival in former times ; one during the ministry of Mr. 
White, as the result of which about twenty members were added 
to the church. Again, in 1843-4, the Lord was pleased to revive 
his work. The work was still, and continued for several months, 
and additions were made to the church at almost every communion 
season for more than two years. During this season of refreshing, 
the church doubled its number of members. The means employed 
were the faithful presentation of divine truth from the pulpit, and 
personal conversation with individuals from house to house and in 
the pastor's study. A great reformation with regard to light 
amusement and sinful practices was a result of the revival. The 
church has been aided in support of its ministers by the American 
Home Missionary Society till 1846. 



PRESBYTERY OF CHEMUNG. 



443 



A beautiful house of worship, well furnished, was completed in 
the spring of 1845. Its dimensions are about fifty-five by forty 
feet. A large proportion of the population of the village attend 
public worship somewhere. The Methodist denomination com- 
menced before the Presbyterian. They have a house of worship 
and regular ministrations, but are not equal to the Presbyterians, 
either in numbers or pecuniary strength. There is an Episcopal 
service once on each Sabbath, and a resident minister, but no or- 
ganized society. 

Catlin. — This church was organized by a committee of the 
Presbytery of Bath, and was received under the care of the Pres- 
bytery, August 26th, 1834. On the organization of the Presbytery 
of Chemung, it was transferred to that Presbytery. Its place of 
meeting is in the town of Dix, which, at the period of the organiza- 
tion of the church, was a part of the town of Catlin. The church 
is still named in the reports of the Presbytery, the church of Cat- 
lin. The church has never reported a higher number than forty-five 
members. Rev. John Gray was installed pastor of the church, Sept. 
14th, 1836, and was dismissed from his pastoral charge, Feb. 5th, 1839. 
In his support, the church was aided by the American Home Mis- 
sionary Society. The history of the church since Mr. Gray's dis- 
mission, is unknown to the writer. 

Mead's Creek. — The little village denominated Mead's Creek is 
in the town of Orange. A Presbyterian church was organized by 
Rev. Joseph Crawford, which was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Bath, Sept. 1st, 1824. On the organization of the 
Presbytery of Chemung, it was transferred to that body. At its 
organization it consisted of about twenty members. It very 
gradually increased from year to year, till in 1836 it reported sixty- 
nine members. Since that year it has declined, and in 1840 re- 
ported but fifty-four. The church has never had a pastor, and has 
at times been without preaching. Different individuals have been 
employed as stated supplies, generally in connexion with some 
other church. As such, Rev. Messrs. Joseph Crawford, Charles 
Goodrich, John Gray, Ebenezer Everett, and licentiates, John S. 
Reasoner and D. A. Abbey, have officiated. In the support of some 
of these the church has been aided by the American Home Mis- 
sionary Society. They have an appropriate house of worship, 
which was erected some years since. In 1846, the church was re- 
ported as being in a progressive state. The Methodist and Bap- 
tist denominations are considerably numerous in the town. 

Campbell — This town was originally a part of the town of 
Painted Post. It began to be settled about the year 1800. Among 
the early settlers were Mr. Robert Campbell, who had once been a 



444 WESTERN NEW YORK. 

clergyman of the Congregational order, Capt. Solomon Campbell, 

Mr. Joseph Stevens, and Mr. Nute. When a church was 

organized in Painted Post, it included a few individuals in Camp- 
bell, and when the church enjoyed the labors of a minister, the 
preaching was held a proportion of the time at the Campbell 
settlement. To some extent the settlement enjoyed the labors of 
itinerating missionaries. In 1831, a Presbyterian church, consist- 
ing of seven members from the church of Painted Post, was orga- 
nized by a Committee of the Bath Presbytery. It was received 
under the care of the Presbytery, June 21st, 1831, and transferred 
to the Presbytery of Chemung, on the organization of that Pres- 
bytery. At the time of the organization. Rev. Benjamin B. Smith 
was laboring as a stated supply in the place. His ministry with 
the church continued three years. He was followed by Rev. 
Charles Goodrich, who labored one year, dividing the time with 
the church of Mead's Creek. Rev. James H. Hotchkin succeeded 
for two years, from April, 1836. Rev. Elijah D. Wells labored 
one year from September, 1841. Rev. Lewis Hamilton supplied 
one year from April, 1842. In the support of all these ministers 
the church was aided by the American Home Missionary Society. 
Rev. Noah Cressy and Rev. Ebenezer Everett supplied, each for 
a season, dividing their labors with another church. On the twelfth 
day of February, 1846, Rev. Lewis Hamilton was installed pastor 
of the church, and continues under the patronage of the American 
Home Missionary Society. Under the labors of these ministers 
several seasons of revival were enjoyed. The church formed in 
1831 with seven members, reported the next spring thirty-three, 
twenty-seven having been added by profession. Other seasons of 
revival have been enjoyed, but none which have added large num- 
bers to the church in a short period. The last report of the num- 
ber of members in the possession of the author is for 1843. The 
church then numbered seventy-nine members. They have a com- 
modious house of worship. The congregation is almost wholly 
composed of the inhabitants residing on the river flats, and the 
Methodists and Baptists each engross a considerable share, and, 
perhaps, are as numerous as the Presbyterians. 

Hornby. — This town was originally a part of the town of Paint- 
ed Post, but was settled at a period later than the part lying on the 
river. A few individuals were members of the church of Painted 
Post till 1830 or '31, when a Presbyterian church was organized by 
a committee of the Presbytery of Bath. It was received under the 
care of the Presbytery of Bath, Jan. 31st, 1832, and was transferred 
to the Presbytery of Chemung at the erection of that body. The 
organization of the church was the result of a revival of religion 
enjoyed in the town. Of the original members of the church, a 
few of them had been members of the church of Painted Post, but 



PRESBYTERY OF CHEMUNG. 



445 



most of them were received on a profession of faith. The next 
spring the church reported their number of members as thirty-three, 
of whom eight had been admitted by letter, and twenty-five on 
their profession of faith. Till 1838 the church has uniformly been 
reported as vacant, although during the period it is known that 
they enjoyed the benefit of ministerial labor in some measure. Mr. 
John S. Reasoner, a licentiate, preached, under the patronage of 
the American Home Missionary Society, a part of the time, for one 
or two years, soon after the organization of the church. Rev. 
Daniel B. Butts, under the same patronage, expended some labor 
here in 1833 and '34. In 1840, '43, and '46, the church is reported 
as supplied, but by whom is not known to the writer, nor has he 
any further information respecting the state of this church. 

Millport. — This village is in the town of Veteran, on the line of 
the Chemung canal, and is of recent origin. The Presbyterian 
church was received under the care of the Chemung Presbytery, 
Jan. 11th, 1837, and is supposed by the writer to have been then 
recently formed. In 1840, it reported forty-three members, and in 
1843, sixty-eight. Rev. William P. Jackson was stated supply 
here during 1837 and '38. Rev. Joseph Underwood was installed 
pastor, March 3d, 1841. He continued between two and three 
years, and was dismissed, Dec. 12th, 1843. He was succeeded by 
Rev. S. B. Shearer as stated supply to this church in connexion 
with Catlin. All these ministers were under the patronage of 
the American Home Missionary Society. The church has an ap- 
propriate house of worship, which was finished in 1842. The 
Methodist denomination have also a house of worship in the village. 

Fairport. — This village is in the town of Elmira, and is situated 
on the Chemung canal at the junction of the feeder. It was for- 
merly called Horse Heads. Gen. Sullivan, on his return from his 
expedition into the Indian country during the war of the Revolu- 
tion, on this spot killed a large number of his pack-horses to pre- 
vent their falling into the hands of the Indians. When the first 
settlers of the country moved in after the war, the carcases of the 
horses, and many of the bones, were consumed or dispersed, but 
the bones of the heads remained entire, and being a very conspi- 
cuous object, the place obtained the name of Horse Heads. In the 
early period of its religious history, the Presbyterian part of the 
community were connected with Elmira, and formed a consider- 
able proportion of that church and congregation. In 1832, a sepa- 
rate church, consisting of twenty-four members, was organized in 
this village, which was then growing into some importance. The 
church was Presbyterian in its organization, and was received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Bath, August 28th, 1832, and 
transferred to Chemung on the organization of that Presbytery. 



446 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



The church generally is spoken of as the church of Horse Heads 
on the Minutes of the Presbytery, and in the Reports of the Gene- 
ral Assembly. The next spring after the organization, the church 
is reported as consisting of one hundred and two members, forty 
since the organization having been received on profession, and forty- 
two by letter. Those received by letter are supposed to have 
previously constituted the church of Veteran, which about this 
period was dissolved, its members generally uniting with the church 
of Horse Heads. In 1846, the church reported one hundred and 
twenty members. April 3d, 1833, Rev. Ethan Pratt was installed 
pastor of the church. He continued between two and three years, 
and was dismissed Nov. 3d, 1835. 

After Mr. Pratt's dismissal the church was vacant for a season, 
and was then supplied by Rev. William M. Adams for a time. 
Rev. Oren Catlin was installed Feb. 7th, 1838. He was dismissed 
Feb. 2d, 1841, and was succeeded by Rev. Charles C. Carr, who 
was ordained and installed pastor of the church June 29th, 1841. 
He remains the present pastor of the church. This church has 
enjoyed repeated seasons of revival, and has been a prosperous 
church. It has always supported its pastor without foreign aid, 
excepting one or two years in which it had the aid of the American 
Home Missionary Society in the support of Mr. Pratt. It has an 
appropriate house of worship erected several years since. The 
Methodist denomination have also a house of worship in the 
village. 

Elmira. — The name of this town and village was formerly New- 
town. It was changed to Elmira in 1808. Of the settlement of 
this town, and the organization of a Presbyterian church by Rev. 
Daniel Thatcher in the summer of 1795, we have spoken in a for- 
mer part of this work. The church was denominated " The Pres- 
byterian Church of Newtown and Chemung." It was received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva at the first meeting of 
that body, Sept. 17th, 1805, and was represented at that meeting 
by a ruling elder, Mr. Abiel Fry. Oct. 31st, 1810, a committee of 
the Presbytery appointed to inquire into its circumstances reported 
that it had become extinct. Immediately after the organization of 
the church, Dr. Amos Parkes, a practising physician and preacher 
licensed by the Morris County Associated Presbytery in New 
Jersey, preached for a season in the village. After him a Mr. 
Brown, a Unitarian from Massachusetts, preached for a season, 
and after him Rev. John Smith, from Dighton (Mass.), was em- 
ployed for a season. It is believed that all these were employed 
by the inhabitants of the village, rather than by the church, though 
the members of the church attended on their ministry. About the 
commencement of the year 1805, Rev. Simeon R. Jones, a member 
of the Morris County Associated Presbytery, on an invitation from 



FRESBYTEEY OE CHEMUNG. 



447 



some individuals of the village, came here and was employed by 
the inhabitants to preach. Mr. Jones was a man of an ardent 
temperament, and strongly attached to independency in church 
government. Under Mr. Jones's preaching a number of individuals 
were awakened and hopefully converted to G.-«d. From a part of the 
members of the existing church and the new converts Air. Jones 
organized a church on the principles 01 Congregational independ- 
ent". Most 01 the members ot the old churcn acquiesced, and that 
church ceased to exist. This new organization took place in 1505. 
Mr. Jones continued to preach and preside over the church the 
greater part of the time ior several years, though he was never 
installed pastor. Members were added to the cnurch trorn time to 
time in considerable numbers. But dissensions prevailed, and the 
state of the church was unhappy. The cnurch felt their need of 
counsel, and on the tenth day of January. 1510. became connected 
with the Ontario Association, ana. a iter the dissolution ot that body, 
was. on the twenty-first day of September. 1514. received under 
the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, from which it was transferred 
to the Presbytery of Batii. and eventually to the Presbytery of 
Chemung, on the organization of those bodies. 

But the troubles of the church were not ended by their connexion 
with the Ontario Association. The majority of the church became 
alienated from Mr. Jones, who continued to preach in the village 
or its vicinitv. while a minority of the cnurch continued strong. v 
attached to 'him. Rev. Ambrose Porter, a member of the Morris 
County Associated Presbytery, was employed for one year to 
preach in the village. The majority of the churcn adhered to him. 
while the minority adhered to Mr. Jones. Happily, however, after 
one years continuance Mr. Porter left the place, and removed 
from this part of the country. Peace was. in a measure, restored 
to the church. Some time in 15 J 5 Mr. Hezekiah Woodruff, a 
licensed preacher of the gospel, was employed to preach among 
them, and was ordained and installed pastor of the church bv the 
Presbytery of Geneva. Feb. 16th. 1516. From this period the 
church became more harmonious. Air. Woodruff was dismissed 
Jan. 26th. 1520. In May. 1520. Rev. Henry Ford commenced 
laboring as a stated supply with this church, and continued his 
ministrations with them tui some time in the beginning of the vear 
1527. At the suggestion of Mr. Ford, in the spring of 1524.' the 
church, with the exception of one vote, unanimously agreed to 
adopt in full the Presbyterian form of government, and elected 
ruling elders, since which period the affairs of the church have 
been transacted with mucin greater order and harmony. Rev. 
Eleazar Lathrop commenced ministerial labor with the church 
soon after Mr. Ford's departure, and was installed pastor Oct. 20th, 
1530. His continuance as pastor was for a short time. On account 
of ill-health he was dismissed August 31st. 1531. He was succeeded 



448 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



by Rev. Marshal L. Farnsworth, who was installed Feb. 1st, 1832. 
He continued in the pastorate till Oct. 31st, 1834, when he was 
dismissed. Rev. John Frost was his successor, who was installed 
Nov. 4th, 1835. He was dismissed Feb. 5th, 1839. On the fourth 
day of December of the same year, Rev. Philemon H. Fowler, the 
present pastor of the church, was installed. 

This church has been blessed with repeated seasons of the out- 
pouring of the Holy Spirit, and has experienced an almost continual 
increase in the number of its members. In 1828, it reported thirty- 
four members as having been added by profession within the year 
preceding ; in 1833, sixty-six ; in 1837, fifty-five ; and in 1843, fifty- 
seven. In the last mentioned year, the whole number of members 
was three hundred and fifty-seven, the largest number ever reported. 
The church has ever supported its own pastor without missionary 
aid, except one year during the ministry of Mr. Ford. In the 
period of his ministry a house of worship was built and dedicated, 
which has since been removed, and replaced by a new and elegant 
one, constructed of brick, eighty feet in length and fifty in breadth. 
It was built in 1836-7. Previous to the organization of a second 
church, it was estimated that one fourth of the inhabitants of the 
village attended worship with the Presbyterian church. Besides 
these two churches, the Methodists, Baptists, and Episcopalians, 
have each a church in the village. The Methodists are about as 
numerous as the Presbyterians, but have not equal pecuniary 
strength. The Baptists rank next in number, and the Episcopa- 
lians last. 

Elmira Congregational Church. — This church was organized 
within four years past, by members dismissed from the Presbyterian 
Church for the purpose. Of what number of members it is com- 
posed, the author is not informed. It stands unconnected with any 
ecclesiastical judicatory. Its pastor, Rev. Frederick W. Graves, a 
member of the Presbytery of Chemung, was installed into the office 
by that Presbytery, Feb. 19th, 1846. 

Chemung. — This church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Chemung, Feb. 4th, 1840. It had at that time been 
recently organized, and consisted of thirty members. Rev. Ethan 
Pratt labored here as stated supply from the period of the organi- 
zation of the church till the spring of 1845. The last two years, 
the church was aided in his support by the American Home Mis- 
sionary Society. The writer supposes that previous to this, 
only one half of his time was appropriated to this church. Feb. 
25th, 1845, Rev. Benjamin M. Goldsmith was ordained and installed 
pastor of this church in connexion with the church of Southport, 
and still continues in this relation. In 1843, this church enjoyed a 
season of revival, but to what extent is not known to the writer. 



PRESBYTERY OF CHEMUNG. 



449 



Athens. — This church has its location in the State of Pennsylva- 
nia ; but as it is under the care of the Presbytery of Chemung, we 
shall notice its history. The village was formerly known by the 
name of Tioga Point, being situated at the confluence of the Tioga 
river with the Susquehannah. Of its first settlement we have spoken 
in another place. For many years it was noted for the prevalence 
of Universalism and immorality, and no stated public worship was 
maintained. If a travelling missionary spent a Sabbath here, he 
found a very small congregation. At what period the church was 
organized, the writer is not able to state. It was some time prior 
to 1816, perhaps as early as 1813 or '14. Rev. William Wisner, 
then a member of the Morris County Associated Presbytery, was 
engaged to preach in the village. The Spirit of the Lord attended 
the word, and souls were converted. As the consequence, a 
church on the Congregational plan of government was organized. 
This church, as the writer believes, was connected with the Lu- 
zerne Association, and with that Association became merged in the 
Presbytery of Susquehannah, retaining the right of managing its 
internal affairs on Congregational principles. In 1823, it is report- 
ed as under the care of that Presbytery. In 1825, it reported 
sixty-two members ; in 1832, ninety-nine, thirty-eight having been 
added by profession the preceding year ; in 1834, one hundred 
and eight, and in 1836, one hundred. From 1827 to 1832, inclu- 
sive, the church is reported as having a stated supply. A part, 
and, perhaps, the whole of this period, Rev, Isaac W. Piatt was the 
supply. In 1837, Rev. Charles C. Corss was stated supply, but 
how long he had labored in that capacity is not known to the 
writer. This year the Exscinding Act of the General Assembly 
was passed, and the Presbytery of Susquehannah called upon the 
churches under its care who were not fully Presbyterian in form, 
to adopt the Presbyterian form of government in full as a condition 
of future connexion with the Presbytery. When the subject came 
to be agitated in a meeting of the church, different sentiments were 
found to exist. Mr. Corss and a part of the members were in favor 
of adopting the Presbyterian form of government in full, and con- 
tinuing their connexion with the Presbytery of Susquehannah, and 
the Old School General Assembly, and a part was in favor of re- 
taining their present mode of organization, and giving up their 
connexion with the Presbytery of Susquehannah. Under these 
circumstances the church divided, and became two organizations. 
The New School employed Rev. Ethan Pratt as stated supply, and 
the house of worship was occupied alternate Sabbaths by each 
church. How long this order continued the author is not informed. 
The church was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Che- 
mung, Sept. 23d, 1840. How long Mr. Pratt continued his labors 
as stated supply is not known to the writer. Rev. Curtis Thurston 
was ordained and installed pastor of the church, Feb. 24th, 1841, 

29 



450 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



and still continues in that relation. Mr. Thurston preaches a part 
of the time at the village of Factoryville in the town of Barton, 
N. Y. The church has been aided in his support by the American 
Home Missionary Society. 

Southport. — This town was formerly a part of Elmira. Its early 
settlement has been noticed in a former chapter. Its early reli- 
gious history is involved in that of Elmira. Whoever ministered 
to that church considered this people as a part of his charge, and 
preached here a part of the time. As early as 1814 or '15, a reli- 
gious society, organized according to civil law, was formed, and a 
house of worship was built, which, when not used by the Presby- 
terians, was frequently occupied by other denominations. A 
church on the Congregational plan, consisting of fifteen members, 
six males and nine females, was organized by Rev. David Higgins 
and Rev. James H. Hotchkin, Oct. 31st, 1821. The church was 
denominated the Second Church of Elmira, and was taken under 
the care of the Presbytery of Bath, Jan. 29th, 1822. Six of the 
original members were from the church of Elmira. In 1829, the 
church adopted the Presbyterian mode of government, and elected 
ruling elders. It is now denominated the Presbyterian Church of 
Southport, and is connected with the Presbytery of Chemung, and 
numbers about one hundred members. 

For a brief period after the organization of the church, Rev. 
Henry Ford supplied jhe pulpit one half of the time, and performed 
other ministerial services. He was followed by Rev. Simeon R. 
Jones, as stated supply for two years or more. In April, 1826, the 
services of Rev. Richard Williams were secured for half of the 
time. This arrangeni3iit continued two years. He was succeeded 
in 1828 by Rev. David Harrowar, w 7 ho labored here half of the 
time for two years. After this the pulpit was vacant for a season. 
As early, however, as June, 1831, Rev. B. Foster Pratt commenced 
laboring here, and was installed pastor of the church, Feb. 2d, 
1832. Mr. Pratt continued in this field till April 15th, 1834, when 
he w T as dismissed from his charge. Rev. John Gray immediately 
succeeded Mr. Pratt, and, as stated supply, remained until February, 

1836. Rev. George Spalding commenced laboring here the ensu- 
ing summer, and was installed into the pastoral office, Jan. 11th, 

1837. This connexion continued till Oct. 5th, 1842, when it was 
dissolved. The same month Rev. Benjamin M. Goldsmith, then a 
licentiate, was employed to supply the pulpit, and officiated as 
stated supply till Feb. 25th, 1845, at which period he was ordain- 
ed and installed pastor of this church, and the adjoining one of 
Chemung. This relation still subsists. 

The church has been several times visited with the reviving in- 
fluences of the Spirit of grace. The most distinguished season 
was in 1831, under the labors of Mr. Pratt. In that year the 



PRESBYTERY OF CHEMUNG. 



451 



church had an accession of forty-eight members, on a profession 
of faith in Christ. The congregation has a neat and commodious 
house of worship, measuring forty-six feet by forty, which was 
built in 1832, the old edifice having been burned in the early part 
of that year. They have always supported their own minister 
without foreign aid. There is a Methodist congregation in the 
near vicinity, and a respectable number of Baptists, who are con- 
nected with the Baptist church in the village of Elmira, and go 
there to worship. As to pecuniary strength, the Presbyterian so- 
ciety hold the priority. 

Big Flats. — This place was settled at an early period, but its 
inhabitants were not characterized by a regard for the gospel and 
its institutions. A few professors of religion of different denomi- 
nations were to be found, but not a sufficient number of Presbyterians 
to organize a church till 1827. On the twenty-seventh day of Septem- 
ber of that year, a Presbyterian church was constituted, which was 
taken under the care of the Presbytery of Bath, Jan. 29th, 1 828, and sub- 
sequently, on the division of the Presbytery, transferred to the Presby- 
tery of Chemung. The church, in 1 828, consisted of eighteen members. 
In 1837, it reported seventy-five. Since that year the writer finds 
no report of the number. In November, 1829, Rev. Merit Har- 
mon was commissioned by the American Home Missionary Society 
to labor here as a stated supply. He continued three or four years. 
He was succeeded by Rev. David Higgins for about one year, and 
afterwards by Rev. David I. Perry, who was installed pastor of 
the church, Feb. 2d, 1836. He was dismissed from his pastoral 
charge, Sept. 18th, 1838. Rev. Francis L. Whiting supplied for a 
season, and was succeeded by Rev. George W. Seaman, who 
seems to have continued two years, and was followed, in 1845, by 
Rev. Sidney Mills, the present supply. In the support of these 
ministers, Mr. Whiting excepted, the church has been aided by the 
American Home Missionary Society. Revivals to some extent 
have been enjoyed by this church. As the result of one of these 
seasons of divine influence, twelve members, in 1831, were report- 
ed as added to the church by profession, and fifteen the next year. 
Again, in 1837, seventeen were reported as having been added by 
profession of faith in Christ. The church has an appropriate 
house of worship, built in 1829. There is also an Episcopal house 
of worship, erected a number of years since, but it has been unoc- 
cupied for several years. 

Corning. — This village is situated in the town of Painted Post. 
The town began to be settled at an early period, as has been no- 
ticed in a former part of this work ; but the principal settlement of 
the village of Corning is of recent date. The Presbyterian Church, 
now denominated the church of Corning, was originally the church 



452 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



of Painted Post, and its place of worship was on the opposite or 
north side of the river. Although small, it originally included the 
members of the Presbyterian Church in all parts of the town, which 
then included the present towns of Hornby, Campbell, Erwin, 
Painted Post, Caton, and Lindsley. The first inhabitants generally 
were distinguished for their irreligious character, and neglect of 
God's worship and ordinances. It is not known to the writer that 
any stated public worship was maintained here for a number of 
years after the settlement of the place. A passing missionary 
occasionally preached a sermon, and perhaps spent a Sabbath ; but 
in general, the Sabbath was to nearly all the community a day of 
business, pastime, or idleness. Some time in the year 1810, Rev. 
Clement Hickman, then a preacher in the Methodist denomination, 
came to Painted Post, and was employed by the inhabitants to 
preach to them. Mr. Hickman gathered a congregation who 
manifested a wish to have his labor continued with them. He had 
in a measure separated himself from the Methodist denomination, 
being dissatisfied with their doctrine and discipline. In this state 
of feeling he applied to the Presbytery of Geneva for licensure, and 
having passed through the usual course of trial to the satisfaction of 
the Presbytery, was duly licensed to preach the gospel, April 18th, 
181 1. Soon after this event, a Presbyterian church was organized 
by Rev. John Niles of Bath. The church consisted of a small 
number of members, dispersed over an extensive territory, and the 
meetings were held in different places to accommodate a larger 
number. The church was received under the care of the Presby- 
tery of Geneva, August 19th, 1812, and on the 25th day of the 
same month, Mr. Hickman was ordained and installed its pastor. 
This church was transferred to the Presbytery of Bath, and from 
that to the Presbytery of Chemung, on the organization of those 
bodies. Mr. Hickman was dismissed from his pastoral charge, 
September 10th, 1816. During Mr. Hickman's ministry, the church 
made some increase in the number of its members, but not large. 
In 1825, it numbered fifty members ; in 1830, it was reduced to 
thirty-four; in 1832, it reported sixty-one, having received by pro- 
fession thirty-two the year preceding ; in 1834, 100 were reported, 
twenty-one having been added by profession. A similar addition 
of sixty-four was made in the year preceding the report for 1843, 
the whole number of members at that period being 169. 

After the dismission of Mr. Hickman, the church declined. Mr. 
Ansel M'Call, the most active and efficient elder, had deceased ; 
another had removed to the Western States, and the few remain- 
ing male members lived at a distance from the village and from 
each other. For a season public ' worship upon the Sabbath was 
suspended, and no meetings of the church were maintained. How 
long this state of things continued, the writer cannot decide. He 



PRESBYTERY OF CHEMUNG. 



453 



believes that two or three years elapsed before regular public wor- 
ship was restored. It is somewhat remarkable, that during this low 
state of the church, a few pious females maintained a continued 
prayer-meeting with individuals of their own sex on the Lord's 
daY, and supported one of the most flourishing Sabbath schools in 
the whole region. Nor were their prayers in vain ; God heard 
their requests and granted his aid. William Steele, Esq., from New 
Jersey, moved into the place. He was a member and elder in the 
Presbyterian church, an educated man, and possessed of talent. 
Through his instrumentality the meetings for public worship were 
resuscitated. Mr. Thomas Lounsbury, then a licentiate (now Dr. 
Lounsbury of Ovid), was employed to preach. His field of labor, 
as the writer believes, extended from Big Flats to Campbell, and the 
services of the Sabbath were divided between three or four set- 
tlements. Whether Mr. Lounsbury continued one or two years, 
the author cannot say : he left in the spring of 1823. 

Soon after Mr. Lounsbury's departure, a preacher of the Metho- 
dist denomination was employed by the community, but not by the 
church, to preach for them, and continued to be so employed for at 
least two years. He was not acceptable to the church generally, 
nor did they consider him as their minister. But his ministrations 
interrupted their meetings, and the Presbyterian Church was 
depressed rather than edified. In 1826 and '27, Mr. Reuben San- 
born, a licentiate, preached here at least one year. Rev. David 
Harrowar succeeded him, and spent one year dividing his labors 
between this church and that of Southport. In October, 1831, 
Rev. David Higgins commenced laboring here, and continued one 
year, during which, in connexion with a protracted meeting, God 
was pleased to pour out his Spirit in its converting influences, and 
as the result, about thirty were added to the church. Mr. Higgins 
left the church united and prosperous. Mr. Higgins was succeeded 
by Rev. John Barton, under whose labors the church was very 
considerably enlarged. He continued two or three years, and was 
followed by Rev. John Smith, who ministered to the church one or 
two years. The next in succession was Rev. Samuel M. Hopkins, 
who was ordained and installed pastor of the church, Sept. 23d, 
1840. He continued only till May 6th, 1841, when the pastoral 
relation was dissolved. Rev. Joshua B. Graves was employed 
for a season as stated supply, and on the twelfth day of February, 
1846, was installed pastor of the church. He has since been dis- 
missed. In the support of Messrs. Sanborn and Higgins the church 
received aid from the American Home Missionary Society. A 
house of worship was built many years since on the north side of 
the river, but since the village of Corning on the other side of the 
river has become populous, the church have removed their location 
to that village, where an elegant house of worship has been erected. 



454 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



The church has lost its original name, and is now known as the 
Church of Corning. There are also in this village a Methodist and 
an Episcopalian church. 

Painted Post First Church. — This church is composed of mem- 
bers of the original church of Painted Post, residing on the north 
side of the river, who were unwilling to go to Corning, when the 
church moved its place of meeting. They were, to the number of 
forty-nine, organized as a separate Presbyterian church, and received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Chemung, Feb. 4th, 1846. 
They have an appropriate house of worship, which was built some 
years since by the original church, and abandoned for the new one 
in Corning. 

Painted Post Second Church. — The location of this church is 
in the town of Caton, which' was formerly included in the town of 
Painted Post. This church is a shoot from the original First Church 
of Painted Post. It was received under the care of the Presbytery 
of Bath, Jan. 27th, 1830, being then a newly organized church. 
At the constitution of the Presbytery of Chemung, it was trans- 
ferred to the care of that body. It has always been a small and 
feeble church, and has but a small part of the time enjoyed the 
regular preaching of the gospel. In 1832, it numbered only four- 
teen members ; in 1833, twenty-six, having received the preceding 
year ten by profession. This is the highest number ever reported. 
They have a respectable house of worship, but are without a 
minister. 

Painted Post Village. — This village is in the town of Erwin, 
which was formerly a part of the town of Painted Post. It was in 
this village that the painted post stood which gave name to the 
original town and the present village. When white men first came 
to this place they found standing here an oaken post, painted after 
the Indian manner. It is said that this post was of ancient date, a 
monument to mark the place of the burial of a celebrated war chief 
of the Indians. As often as it has decayed it has been renewed, 
and so continues to the present time. This place was settled at an 
early period. The family of Erwin, if not the first, were among 
the early settlers, and owned a large share of the land. In ecclesi- 
astical concerns, so far as the Presbyterian denomination is con- 
cerned, it was till late years connected with the church of Painted 
Post, at what is now called Knoxville. When the population of the 
village commenced some persons were desirous of a separate 
church organization. With reference to the accomplishment of this 
object Rev. John Smith was employed to preach here for a season. 
The church was organized by a committee of the Presbytery of 
Chemung, March 16th, 1841, and was received by the Presbytery 



PRESBYTERY OF CHEMUNG. 



455 



in April following. The church at its organization consisted of 
seventeen members, eleven of whom were from the church of 
Painted Post (now Corning). It was organized a Presbyterian 
church, and numbered sixty-two members at the last report. On 
the sixth of May, 1841, Rev. Samuel S. Howe was ordained and 
installed its pastor, and continued till Dec. 20th, 1842, when he was 
dismissed. Rev. B. Foster Pratt was his successor, and was in- 
stalled as pastor Dec. 12th, 1843. He still continues in the pasto- 
rate. The church has received constant aid from the American 
Home Missionary Society in the support of its pastors. In the 
winter of 1843-4, the church was favored with a revival, by which 
its number was increased, and its bands strengthened. It has' a 
house of worship, fifty-eight feet by thirty-eight in dimensions, with 
a bell. It is estimated that one-third of the population attend wor- 
ship with the Presbyterian church. Many attend worship nowhere. 
The Methodists are about as numerous as the Presbyterians. 
There are some Baptists and some Episcopalians. 

Erwin. — The location of this church was in the southern part of 
the town of Erwin. It was organized with twenty-five members 
taken from the church of Lawrenceville by a committee of the 
Presbytery of Bath, and was taken under the care of the Presby- 
tery August 26th, 1834. It was transferred to the Presbytery of 
Chemung on the organization of that body. Rev. Daniel B. Butts 
labored here as a stated supply a part of the time for three years, 
but the church did not flourish. Its highest number of members 
ever reported was twenty-eight. In 1843 it was reduced to sixteen. 
It has now become extinct, and the few remaining members have 
united with the church of Painted Post Village. 

Addison. — The name of this town originally was Middletown. 
Some settlements were made in it about the year 1795, but the 
settlements generally are of a much later date. At what time 
public worship was set up is not known to the writer. No church 
of the Presbyterian denomination was organized till 1832. The 
church was organized by a committee of the Presbytery of Bath, 
and was received under the care of the Presbytery Jan. 30th, 1833, 
and was transferred to the Presbytery of Chemung at its organiza- 
tion. The church was formed with fifteen members. In 1846 it 
had increased to the number of thirty-eight. Rev. Daniel B. Butts 
officiated as stated supply to this church a part of the time for 
three or four years. Rev. Lewis Hamilton was ordained and 
installed pastor of the church July 1st, 1840, and was dismissed 
March 16th, 1842. Rev. Darius Williams succeeded him as a 
stated supply, and continued two or three years. He was followed 
by Rev. A. H. Parmelee, who commenced his labors in 1844, and 
still continues. The church have an appropriate house of worship, 



456 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



and at the last report were making a gratifying progress. They 
are very much intermixed with other denominations. 

Thurston. — This town is of recent organization, being taken 
from the eastern part of the town of Cameron. Its settlement is 
of recent date. A small Presbyterian church was organized in 
1845, and taken under the care of the Presbytery of Chemung 
Sept. 2d of that year. Its number of members is not known to 
the writer, nor does he know whether it has enjoyed any stated 
ministrations of the gospel. It was reported in 1846 as vacant. 

Woodhull. — The settlement of this town is of a comparatively 
recent date, and the population not numerous. A Presbyterian 
church, consisting of fifteen members, was organized by Rev. Isaac 
Flagler, which was received under the care of the Presbytery of 
Bath, Jan. 30th, 1833. At the organization of the Presbytery of 
Chemung, it was assigned to that body. In 1834 it reported thirty- 
nine members, twenty-three having been received on profession 
the year previous. For a number of years past no report from 
this church is found on the reports of the Presbytery. The church 
has never had a regularly settled pastor, but as stated supplies 
Rev. Messrs. Jeremiah Pomeroy, Oren Johnson, Daniel B. Butts, 
Noah Cressey, and Thomas Duncan, have for different periods 
officiated, for a part of the time. The church was aided in their 
support by the American Home Missionary Society. The present 
condition of the church is not definitely known to the writer. 

Troupsburgh. — This town began to be settled in 1805, but a 
large proportion of the inhabitants were said to be of an irreligious 
character. The Methodist and Baptist denominations at a pretty 
early period made some progress, but the Presbyterians had no 
establishment till about 1833. At that period a Presbyterian 
church, in the north-western section of the town, was organized by 
Rev Isaac W. Piatt, and composed of about twenty members. 
This church was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Bath, 
August 27th, 1833, and was transferred to the Presbytery of 
Chemung on its organization. But the church has never flourished. 
It has never enjoyed stated ministrations of gospel ordinances ; few 
or no additions have been made to it ; and in consequence of re- 
movals and deaths the church has become extinct. 

Greenwood. — The settlement of this town is of a date posterior 
to that of most other towns in the County of Steuben. One half 
of the town formerly belonged to the town of Canisteo, and the 
other part to Troupsburgh. On the twelfth day of May, 1823, a 
church was organized, by Rev. Robert Hubbard, in the town of 
Canisteo, consisting of thirteen members, of whom five were 



PRESBYTERY OF CHEMUNG. 457 

males, and eight females. Of this number, ten had previously 
been members of other churches. The church was denominated 
" The Church of Christ on Bennett's Creek in the town of Canisteo." 
The greater part of the members resided in that part of the town 
which now constitutes the towns of Greenwood and Jasper. The 
additions afterwards made to it were almost exclusively from this 
part. The church was received under the care of the Presbytery 
of Bath, August 29th, 1828. In the course of about six years 
four male members and eleven females were received, of whom 
eleven were received by certificate and four by profession. 

On the twenty-ninth day of October, 1829, a Committee of the 
Presbytery, consisting of Rev. David Higgins, Rev. Lyman Bar- 
rett, and Elder Israel Baldwin, met at the house of Coh John 
Stephens, in the town of Greenwood, with the members of the 
church residing in that vicinity, and organized them into a separate 
church, to be known as the Presbyterian Church of Greenwood, 
and to retain the records of the original church of Bennett's 
Creek. This new organized, or rather re-organized, church con- 
sisted of sixteen members, of whom eight were males and eight 
females. All except one were members of the church of Ben- 
nett's Creek. At the formation of the Presbytery of Chemung, 
this church was assigned to that Presbytery. The church has 
always been in a feeble condition, and has enjoyed stated preach- 
ing but for short periods. In 1833. it consisted of twenty-three 
members. This was the highest number ever reported. In 1843, 
they were reduced to eleven. A very large share of the popula- 
tion are exceedingly irreligious, and other denominations take the 
most of the professors. It is, perhaps, probable that this church 
will, ere long, be merged in the church of Jasper. 



458 



CHAPTER XXX. 

Presbytery of Bath :— Starkey, Dundee, Rock Stream, Barrington, Wayne, Tyrone, 
Pulteney, Prattsburgh, Naples, Conhocton. South Dansville, Howard Second Church, 
Howard, Kennedyville, Wheeler, Hammondsport,Bath, Cameron, Hornellsville, Jas- 
per. 

We next proceed to narrate the history of the churches within 
the bounds of 

THE PRESBYTERY OF BATH. 

Pursuing our usual order we begin with the church of 

Starkey. — The town of Starkey was formerly a part of the town 
of Reading, which constituted the gore of land lying between the 
east line of Phelps and Gorham's Purchase and the Seneca lake. 
The settlement of the town commenced soon after the commence- 
ment of the present century. A Presbyterian church, consisting of 
three males and five females, was organized by Rev. Jedidiah Chap- 
man, Oct. 26th, 1806, to which two more were added the next 
year. But the church did not flourish, and became virtually ex- 
tinct. With the assistance of Rev. David Higgins, the church was 
resuscitated or reorganized, June 11th, 1817. It then consisted of 
three males and three females. From this period regular stated 
public worship was maintained, and the church began to shed light 
on the surrounding darkness. The church was received under the 
care of the Presbytery of Bath, August 20th, 1817. It was then 
denominated the First Presbyterian Church of Reading. The name 
was changed to Starkey in 1827. In 1825 the church numbered 
fifty-four members; in 1826, eighty-two; in 1832, one hundred and 
sixty-nine; and im 1846, eighty-five. The great diminution of the 
number of members was principally caused by the organization of 
two other churches from it. Rev. Joseph Crawford was ordained 
and installed pastor of this church and that of Wayne, Feb. 14th, 
1821. His relation to the church of Starkey was dissolved Feb. 
26th, 1823. Rev. Samuel White was installed pastor, Sept. 28th, 
1825. His dismission took place Feb. 17th, 1831. After Mr. 
White's dismission Rev. Linus W. Billington labored as stated sup- 
ply two or three years, and after him Rev. B. F. Pratt, for two or 
three years. Rev. Absalom K. Barr labored as stated supply for a 
season. In the year 1831 an extensive revival was enjoyed, as the 
result of which, more than eighty members were added to the 



PRESBYTERY OF BATH. 



459 



church, on a profession of faith in Christ. This church has been 
greatlv reduced in consequence of divisions to form other churches 
in contiguous villages. In the town of Starkey, which is a town of 
moderate size, are three or four distinct villages, in three of which 
there are Presbyterian churches. From this circumstance the 
churches are confined to narrow limits, and this is particularly the 
case with tjre first or original church. This church has an appropri- 
ate house of worship, situated in the smalk village called Eddytown, 
which was erected in 1825. It does not appear that this church 
has ever received aid in the support of any of its ministers from a 
Missionary Society. There are many Methodists intermixed with 
the members of this church, whose house of worship is in Starkey 
village. 

Dundee. — This village is in the town of Starkey, on the western 
part. The Presbyterian church was formed by a division of the 
original church of Starkey, as the writer believes, in 1832, and was 
taken under the care of the Presbytery of Bath. In 1833 it con- 
sisted of fifty-nine members, and in 1848, of eighty-five-. It has 
never had an installed pastor, and has much of the time been con- 
nected with the first church of Starkey in the enjoyment of minis- 
terial services. As stated supplies, Rev. B. Foster Pratt, Rev. Da- 
vid I. Perry, Rev. Absalom K. Barr, and Rev. A. T. H. Powell, 
have severally served the church. Mr. Powell officiates at the 
present time. No remarkable revivals have been experienced since 
the organization of the church. In the support of Mr. Pratt the 
church was aided one year by the American Home MissionarySo- 
ciety. They have a commodious house of worship. The church 
was originally denominated the Second Church of Starkey. The 
name was changed to Dundee in 1848. The Baptists and Metho- 
dists have each an appropriate house of worship in the village of 
Dundee. There is also another, denominated a Free House, occu- 
pied mostly by Universalists and Christians. 

Rock Stream. — This is a small village in the southern part of the 
town of Starkey. A Presbyterian church, formed by a division of 
the first church of Starkey, was organized and recognised by the 
Presbytery of Bath in 1832, or the beginning of 1833. It was de- 
nominated the Third Church of Starkey till 1840, when it took the 
name of Rock Stream. In 1833 it consisted of twenty-eight mem- 
bers; in 1840, of sixty-four; and in 1846, of sixty. It has never 
had an installed pastor. As stated supplies, Rev. Samuel White, 
Rev. Egbert Roosa, Rev. George T. Everest, Rev. Abraham K. 
Barr, and Rev. Ethan Pratt, have officiated, some of them supplying 
another church at the same time. In the support of Messrs. White, 
Roosa, Everest, and Pratt, the church has been aided by the 
American Home Missionary Society. A measure of revival was 



460 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



enjoyed in 1838, and again in 1846, but the results were not large, 
as it relates to additions to the church. The church has a small, 
but commodious house of worship, erected several years since. 

Barrington. — This church was organized, September 21st, 1830, 
and was received under the care of the Presbytery of Bath, Oct. 19th, 
1830. It was, at its organization, composed of a few individuals 
taken from the church of Starkey. In 1832, it numbered only fifteen 
members ; in 1837, it reported twenty-nine. Rev. Benjamin B. 
Smith labored here in 1832 and 1833, Rev. John S. Reasoner in 
1-835, Rev. Samuel T. Babbitt one half of the time in 1836, and 
Rev. George T. Everest a part of the time in 1838 and '39. In 
the support of all these ministers, the American Home Missionary 
Society lent its aid. In 1833, a house of worship was erected. 
One or two partial revivals were experienced, but not of such a 
character as to strengthen the church. It never flourished. Divi- 
sions existed, and about the time of the division of the Presbyterian 
church in the United States, a part of the members withdrew from 
their brethren, and refused to be under the jurisdiction of the Pres- 
bytery of Bath. Under these circumstances the church became so 
reduced and discouraged, that the Presbytery, at their request, 
dissolved the church, giving letters of dismission to those of its 
members who acknowledged their jurisdiction, to such churches in 
the vicinity as were most convenient in location. Thus the church 
ceased its separate existence, August 25th, 1840. 

Wayne. — This town, originally named Frederickstown, at the 
time of its organization, included the present towns of Bradford, 
Orange, Tyrone, Wayne, and Barrington. The settlement of the 
1 town commenced in 1794, but did not make much progress for 
several years. A Baptist church is supposed to have been the first 
religious organization in the town. A Presbyterian church, con- 
sisting of sixteen members, was organized, December 21st, 1809, by 
Rev. John Lindsley, acting as a missionary under the General 
Assembly. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of 
Geneva, September 21st, 1814, and was transferred to the Pres- 
bytery of Bath on the organization of that body. In 1821, it con- 
sisted of twenty-one members ; in 1821, of one hundred and three ; 
in 1832, of two hundred; and in 1846, of sixty-four. For several 
years after its organization it was in a very low state, its members 
were few, and most of them very negligent in duty. Public wor- 
ship w 7 as intermitted, and the church seemed fast verging to disso- 
lution. But at length some light appeared. On the 14th day of 
February, 1821, Rev. Joseph Crawford was ordained and installed 
pastor of this church and the church of Starkey, to divide his labors 
between them. At the expiration of two years, his relation to the 
church of Starkey was dissolved, and his whole time devoted to 



PRESBYTERY OF BATH. 



461 



the church of Wayne till April 29th, 1839, when he was dismissed 
from his pastoral charge. Rev. James Rowlette officiated as stated 
supply for several years, Rev. William Johnson, one or two years, 
Rev. Benjamin Russell, one or two years, and Rev. Flavel S. Gay- 
lord, one year. At the present time the church is vacant. In the 
support of Mr. Russell the church had the aid of the American 
Home Missionary Society. In 1827, the church reported thirty-six 
members, added within the year, and the next year, twenty-one. 
These additions were most of them the result of a blessed revival 
which had been enjoyed. In 1832, nearly one hundred were added 
by profession to the church. But from that period the church has 
declined. About this period the church was divided. The church 
of Tyrone was formed from it, a circumstance which deprived it of 
at least one half its strength. It is now reduced to a low condition. 
There was a house of worship erected by the Baptists at an early 
period, but left unfinished. This was removed some years after- 
wards to a location considerably south of the present village of 
Wayne, by the joint labors of the Baptists and Presbyterians, and 
finished in plain style. It was then for some years , occupied by 
each denomination alternate Sabbaths. Some years since it was 
deserted by the Presbyterians, who built for themselves a new and 
commodious house in the village. The Methodists - have also a 
house of worship in the village, with regular ministrations. There 
is a small Episcopal Society, who have preaching a part of the 
time, but have no appropriate house of worship. 

Tyrone. — This church was formed by a committee of the Pres- 
bytery of Bath, Feb. 21st, 1832. It was composed of twenty-eight 
members, being a detachment from the church of Wayne, and was 
taken under the care of the Presbytery of Bath. The next spring' 
it reported eighty-four members; in 1840, one hundred and forty- 
seven. This is the last report which the writer has seen. The 
church has never had a settled pastor. Rev. Joseph Crawford la- 
bored here as a stated supply for a season, after the organization of 
the church. He was followed by Rev. Charles Goodrich, Rev. 
William Todd, Rev. William Johnson, and Rev. Samuel White, 
w T ho labored some time. Rev. James Rowlette was stated supply 
about ten years, but was at length obliged to desist on account of 
bodily indisposition. Rev. Henry C. Morse is the supply at the 
present time, in 1832 a revival was enjoyed, which added to the 
church twenty-five members by profession. In 1840 sixty were 
reported as thus added, the result of a gracious outpouring of the 
Holy Spirit. The church has been aided by the American Home 
Missionary Society in the support of Messrs. Crawford and White. 
The church, in connexion with the Baptists, has a house of worship, 
which is occupied alternate Sabbaths by the two denominations. 



462 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



The Methodist denomination has also a house of worship in the vil- 
lage of Tyrone. 

Pulteney. — The settlement of this town commenced about the 
beginning of the present century. The early settlers were from 
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and different parts of New York and 
the Eastern States. Hence there was an entire want of homoge- 
neous character. But few of them were professors of religion of 
any denomination, and for a considerable period no male professor 
of the Presbyterian order resided in the place. A Baptist church 
was organized in the north part of the town as early as 1811 or '12, 
and not long afterwards another of the same denomination at the 
southern part. Previous to these organizations the Methodists had 
a class formed, and circuit preaching established. Rev. James H. 
Hotchkin, of Prattsburgh, began to pay some attention to this desti- 
tute region as early as the latter part of 1809, preaching occasion- 
ally, and sometimes statedly on a week-day. Itinerant missionaries 
occasionally visited the place, and spent a day or two. At length 
Mr. Jabish Havens, who had been a ruling elder in the church of 
Ulysses, moved into the place, and commenced regular public wor- 
ship upon the Sabbath. A few other professors of the Presbyterian 
order moved in, and a Presbyterian church, consisting of twelve 
members, was organized June 2d, 1817, by Rev. Ebenezer Lazell 
and Rev. James H. Hotchkin. The church was received under 
the care of the Presbytery of Bath, August 20th, 1817. In 1825 it 
numbered sixty-nine members ; in 1832, one hundred and fifty-six; 
and in 1846, one hundred and twenty-three. At the time of the or- 
ganization of the church Mr. Lazell was engaged with them as 
stated supply, and continued to officiate in that capacity for some 
time. Rev. Charles Yale was ordained and installed pastor of the 
church Jan. 30th, 1823. His regular dismission took place August 
31st, 1825, though his services as pastor had ceased some time pre- 
vious. Rev. Beriah Hotchkin commenced preaching in the con- 
gregation in Oct. 1824, and supplied this congregation in connexion 
with Wheeler one year. He then removed to Pulteney, and sup- 
plied statedly two years. He was followed by Rev. Stalham Clary, 
who supplied one or two years. Rev. Samuel White commenced 
as a stated supply in the spring of 1830, and continued between 
two and three years. After him Rev. Asa Messer supplied a short 
time, and was followed by Rev. Benjamin B. Smith, who continued 
three or four years. He was succeeded by Rev. Samuel T. Bab- 
bitt, who continued two or three years. Rev. James H. Hotchkin 
was the next in order of time, commenced his labors in the spring 
of 1840, and continued three years. Rev. Samuel White immedi- 
ately succeeded him, and officiated as stated supply till April 10th, 
1844, at which date he was installed pastor of the church, and in 



PRESBYTERY OF BATH. 



463 



that relation still continues. A revival under the ministry of Mr. 
Yale was enjoyed, which added a number of members to the church. 
Under Mr. Clary's labors the Spirit was shed down, and twenty- 
eight members were added to the church on a profession of faith. 
Also during the first period of Mr. White's ministry, a revival was 
experienced, and in 1832 fifty-seven was reported as the number of 
additions by profession the preceding year. The church has been 
formerly aided, for seven or eight years, in the support of their 
ministers, by the American Home Missionary Society. The church 
has an appropriate house of w T orship, erected in 1835, but its loca- 
tion is such, that in the opinion of many, the prosperity of the church 
is greatly impeded. This congregation has a glebe of forty acres, 
which is under good improvement, and on w T hich are a house and 
barn for the use of the minister. This property was obtained by 
the sale of a lot of one hundred acres of wild land, given to the So- 
ciety by the agent of the Pulteney estate. The location of the 
house of worship occasioned a division of the church. About twenty 
members living at the southern extremity took letters of dismission, 
and were organized a Congregational church, in connexion with 
the Genesee Consociation. Rev. Elijah Woolage was installed its 
pastor, and so continued two or three years. , He was succeeded 
by Rev. Samuel Porter, as stated supply, one year. Rev. Samuel 
White, the pastor of the Presbyterian church, labored with them 
one quarter of the time for two years, from August, 1844. Thev 
have been aided in the support of their ministers by the American 
Home Missionary Society. They have a small house of worship, 
in an unfinished state. In consequence of deaths and removals, the 
church has become nearly extinct. Within the town of Pulteney 
are two Baptist churches, with houses of worship, two churches of 
Free Will Baptists, one of which has a house of worship, two 
Methodist chapels, and a small community of Christians, which has 
no appropriate house of worship. Some of the members of this 
community reside in the town of Prattsburgh, and their ordinary 
place of worship is a school-house, situated on the line which di- 
vides the two towns. 

Prattsburgh. — That part of the town of Prattsburgh which con- 
stitutes Township number six in the third Range of Phelps and 
Gorham's Purchase, was purchased in 1800, of the agent of the 
Pulteney Estate, b'y Capt. Joel Pratt of Columbia county. Capt. 
Pratt was a member of a Congregational Church in the village of 
Spencertown. It was his determination to settle himself and family 
on this township, and establish religious society in the order to 
which he had been accustomed. W^ith a view to the accomplish- 
ment of this object, he required every person to whom he sold land 
to give a note, to the amount of fifteen dollars on each hundred 
acres of land purchased by him, payable within a given time with 



464 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



the legal interest annually till paid, to the trustees of the Religious 
Society which should be formed. The first permanent settlers in 
the township were Mr. Jared Pratt, a nephew of Capt. Pratt, and 
his wife, who came in, in the early spring of 1801. They consti- 
tuted the only family in the township for about two years and a 
half. Their hardships were many, and their privations great. No 
neighbor within several miles ; no roads except a mere trail, and a 
dense forest all around them. To obtain flour for their bread, Mr. 
Pratt would yoke his oxen, fill his bag with grain, lay it across the 
yoke of his oxen, and drive his team eleven miles to Naples, where 
was the nearest mill to his habitation, the road all the way lying in 
a dense forest without any habitation contiguous to it. In the 
autumn of 1803, Rev. John Niles, then a licentiate, moved his family 
into the place and settled near Mr. Pratt. Mr. Niles was in feeble 
health, and expected to be obliged to relinquish the work of the 
ministry, and adopt the occupation of an agriculturist. Capt. Pratt 
gave him eighty acres of land as a gratuity for settling on his town- 
ship. The next Sabbath after Mr. Niles's arrival, public worship 
cdmmenced, and has been constantly maintained ever since. The 
succeeding winter one or two other families came on, and the next 
season a considerable number, and for three or four years the influx 
of immigrants was considerable. Almost all the heads of families 
who first came in were members of Congregational churches, and 
persons of more than ordinary intelligence. They were drawn 
hither by the expectation of enjoying a good, religious, and civil 
society. They were peculiarly a homogeneous population. The 
plan adopted by Capt. Pratt for establishing a permanent fund for 
the support of the gospel, was the means of drawing together such 
a community, but after a few years the fund became a subject of 
dissatisfaction, and was eventually given up. On the 26th day of 
June, 1804, a Congregational Church was organized by Rev. 
Timothy Field of Canandaigua. The church at its organization 
consisted of eleven members, of whom six w r eje males, viz. Joel 
Pratt, John Niles, Samuel Tuttle, Solsbury Burton, Pomeroy Hull, 
and William P. Curtis. Four others were added to them in a 
short time. Of these fifteen, two, W. P. Curtis, Esq., and his wife, 
are still members, one other who removed from the place many 
years since is supposed to be alive, and the rest sleep. At the close 
of the year 1808 the church had increased to the number of fifty- 
one members ; in 1819, eighty-six; in 1822, 180; in 1826, 235; m 
1840, 400 ; and in 1846,321. The church became connected with 
the Ontario Association, June 10th, 1806, and after the dissolution 
of that body was received under the care of the Presbytery of 
Geneva, September 12th, 1813. On the organization of the Pres- 
bytery of Bath, it was assigned to the care of that body. 

Previous to the organization of the church, Mr. Niles led in 
public worship and sometimes preached. After the organization of 



PRESBYTERY OF BATH. 



465 



the church he was elected its standing moderator, and more fre- 
quently preached. His health became in a great measure re-estab- 
lished,* and he received ordination June 11th, 1806, from the Ontario 
Association. He was employed as a stated supply for one half of 
the time at Prattsburgh, and the other half at Bath till the spring 
of 1808, at which period he received a call to settle at Bath, which 
he accepted, and removed his family to that village. From the 
period of the removal of Mr. Niles till the next April, the church 
was mostly without preaching. At that period Rev. James H. 
Hotchkin visited them by request, was employed to preach a few 
Sabbaths, received a unanimous call for settlement, and was in- 
stalled pastor of the church, August 16th, 1809. His ministry was 
continued to the close of the year 1829, and the pastoral relation 
was dissolved, January 27th, 1830. Rev. George R. Rudd com- 
menced his labors the first Sabbath in 1830, and w r as installed 
pastor in answer to a unanimous call, March 24th, 1830. He con- 
tinued in the pastorate till May 3d, 1836, w T hen the pastoral relation 
was dissolved. After the dismission of Mr. Rudd, Rev. Samuel 
Griswold officiated as stated supply one year. Rev. B. Foster 
Pratt was then employed for a season, and was installed pastor 
January 31st, 1838. The pastoral relation was dissolved, August 
31st, 1841. Rev. Aaron Judson followed him as stated supply for 
two years, and was succeeded by Rev. Benjamin C. Smith, the 
present pastor, who was installed, April 9th, 1844. 

During the period in which Mr. Niles ministered to the church 
there were instances of hopeful conversion, but no general revival. 
The additions to the church were principally of emigrants coming 
with letters from other churches. Under the ministry of Mr. 
Hotchkin, which extended over a period of twenty years and nine 
months, there were several seasons of religious interest, attended 
with hopeful conversions, but two that were strongly marked for 
their extent, power, and purity. The first commenced in the lattei 
part of the year 1818, and was continued through the winter. It 
was most powerful during the month of February. The first Sab- 
bath in that month was a day of unusual solemnity. At an appointed 
weekly meeting the house of worship was filled to overflowing, and 
from the necessity of the case, and the powerful state of feeling exist- 
ing, it* became necessary to continue the meeting from day to day for 
several days in succession. Individuals were seen trembling on 
their seats, and the silent tear trickling down their cheeks, but 
entire stillness reigned. Nothing was heard but the voice of the 
speaker imparting instruction, addressing exhortation to the assem- 
bly, or lifting up the prayer unto God. More than thirty, it is be- 
lieved, were born again during that eventful week. The work 
continued with much power for some time, but none of the subjects 
of this work were received as members of the church till the first 
Sabbath of June following. On that memorable dav fiftv-nine indi- 

30 



466 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



viduals stood before a great congregation, and, in the presence of 
God, angels, and men, professed their faith in the Lord Jesus 
Christ, took upon themselves the bonds of the covenant, and for the 
first time commemorated the dying love of the Saviour with his 
disciples. Such an exhibition was never before presented in the 
region. People from neighboring towns, and persons of every 
character and grade, were present. In the expectation that this 
would be the case, and as the house of w T orship was small, prepa- 
ration was made to hold the meeting for that day in a neighboring 
grove. The day was fine, the sky clear, and no wind to rustle the 
leaves. God seemed to be present with his aid. The pastor 
preached from Isaiah liii. 11. He shall see of the travail of his 
soul, and shall be satisfied. The other general revival was in 1825. 
It was characterized much in the same w T ay as the former. As the 
result of it between sixty and seventy united with the church by 
profession. Time has tested the character of these revivals. A 
very small number have turned back from their profession. A 
considerable number have died in the hope of the gospel, and a 
large number remain steadfast in their profession, and of numbers 
it may be said that they are burning and shining lights. During 
Mr. Hotchkin's ministry two hundred and eighteen members were 
received into the church on profession of their faith. Under the 
ministry of Mr. Rudd several seasons of revival were enjoyed, as 
the results of which large numbers were added to the church. A 
revival in 1830 added twenty-nine members to the church by pro- 
fession. Another in 1831 added seventy-one, and another in 1832 
and 1833 added to the church by profession, fifty members. Under 
the ministry of Messrs. Pratt and Judson, there were seasons of 
special interest, and many were added to the church. 

This church in its infancy received less aid from itinerating mis- 
sionaries than almost any other of its long standing in Western 
JYew York. It has never received any foreign aid in the support 
of any of its ministers, and has contributed much to assist those who 
were needy, and to promote the objects of Christian benevolence. 
At a very early period the congregation erected a cheap building, 
thirty-two feet in length and twenty-two in breadth, as a house of 
worship, and furnished it with movable seats. At the settlement of 
Mr. Hotchkin it was enlarged by the addition of eighteen feet to 
the length, and at a subsequent period it was again enlarged by the 
addition of eleven feet to the breadth. In 1827, a new and elegant 
house was erected, sixty feet in length and forty-four in breadth, 
and furnished with a bell, w r hich was solemnly dedicated to the 
worship of Almighty God, Feb. 13th, 1828. This has lately been 
remodelled and enlarged by the addition of sixteen feet to the 
length. The Society are in possession of a good and convenient 
parsonage, built from the avails of two hundred acres of wild land, 
given as a gratuity by Col. Robert Troup, the agent of the Pulteney 



PRESBYTERY OF BATH. 



467 



Estate. This church has furnished a number of young men for the 
ministry. As foreign missionaries, Rev. Henry H. Spalding, and 
the wife of Dr. Marcus Whitman, of the Oregon mission, were from 
this church.* , 

This is much the largest worshipping assembly in the town of 
Prattsburgh. The ordinary congregations on the Sabbath vary in 
number from three hundred to four hundred persons, sometimes 
more. There is a respectable Baptist church in the village, which 
has a commodious house of worship, and a worthy pastor. There 
is also a Methodist chapel, but the class is broken up, and the house 
has been sold by the sheriff. Besides these, there are two other 
Baptist churches in the town, one of which has a house of worship ; 
two houses for Methodists, and one for Christians. A flourishing 
Academy has long been in operation in the village. 

Naples. — The town of Naples, a part of what was formerly 
Middletown, was purchased in 1790 by a company of eleven 
» persons residing in Berkshire County (Mass.). The settlement of 
the town commenced the next year by two families of the name 
of Watkins, two of the name of Clark, two of the name of Parish, 
one of the name of Johnson, and one of the name of Cleaveland. 
Some of them were members of Congregational churches, and all of 
them had been accustomed to an attendance on religious worship, 
and regarded religious institutions. Public worship on the Sabbath 
was immediately commenced and maintained by the use of printed 
sermons, read by some one of the attendants. These meetings 
were sustained for some time, and then fell into disuse. The first 
sermon ever preached in the town, was preached in the month of 
June, 1792, by Rev. Zadoc Hunn of Bristol. As the settlement 
progressed, missionaries sometimes visited the place, and during 
the great revival of 1799, Rev. Jedidiah Bushnell, missionary from 
Connecticut, visited the place. His preaching was blessed to the 
awakening and conversion of some souls. Professing Christians 
were aroused from their supineness, public worship on the Sabbath 
and conference meetings on other days were established, and the 
face of the community began to wear a different aspect. A church 
of the Congregational order, consisting of thirteen persons, of 
whom six were males, was organized, Feb. 1st, 1800, by Rev. 
Samuel Fuller, a missionary of the Berkshire and Columbia Mis- 
sionary Society. This church was received into connexion with 
the Ontario Association, June 12th, 1804. After the dissolution of 
the Association, the church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Geneva, Feb. 21st, 1815, and on the organization of 
the Presbytery of Bath, was assigned to that Presbytery. In 
February, 1815, the church adopted the Presbyterian form of 

* While this work is in press, information is received that Dr. Whitman and his 
wife have been massacred by the Indians. 



468 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



government, and elected ruling elders. In 1825, the church num- 
bered thirty-five members ; in 1843, sixty-eight ; and in 1846, 
eighty-five. Previous to the organization of a church, the commu- 
nity employed Mr. Fisk, a Baptist elder, to preach to them two 
years and a half. Rev. Solomon Allen was ordained and installed 
pastor by an ecclesiastical council, Dec. 5th, 1805. He was dis- 
missed, June 13th, 1810. Some time after the dismission of Mr. 
Allen, Rev. Silas Hubbard was employed as stated supply, the 
author believes, one year. From the period of Mr. Hubbard's 
departure till 1815, the writer believes that the church was gene- 
rally without stated preaching. In 1815, Rev. Lyman Barritt, 
then a licentiate, was employed, and was ordained and installed 
pastor, June 21st, 1815. Mr. Barritt's labors were continued till 
Oct. 4th, 1826, when the pastoral relation was dissolved. Mr. 
James Cahoon, a licentiate, supplied the pulpit one year and a half, 
during the years 1827 and 1828. Rev. John C. Morgan was or- 
dained and installed pastor, Aug. 27th, 1829, and was dismissed, 
Jan. 25th, 1831. Rev. Jacob Burbank succeeded him as stated 
supply for one year, and he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. White for 
one or two years. Rev. John C. Morgan supplied from some 
time in 1834 to 1839. Rev. Ebenezer Everett followed him as 
stated supply two years. Rev. George T. Everest was installed 
pastor of the church, Sept. 13th, 1842. His dismission took place 
August, 1846. Rev. Flavel S. Gaylord is at the present time em- 
ployed as stated supply. There have been several seasons of 
religious interest which maybe denominated revivals, since the one 
in 1799, but not very extensive. The highest number of members 
in the church ever reported, is eighty-five. The church was aided 
twelve years by the American Home Missionary Society in sup- 
port of its ministers, but for several years past, has relinquished 
that aid. It has a house of worship sixty-feet in length by forty in 
breadth, which was finished and dedicated in 1825, at a cost of 
#3500, but in the progress of improvement, it is now in its location 
entirely out of the centre of influence, and it is in contemplation to 
erect a new one in a more central situation. 

Infidelity and irreligion have fearfully prevailed in Naples, and 
it is estimated that not more than one-third of the inhabitants are 
accustomed to attend public worship anywhere. The people of 
Naples have been stigmatized as an infidel race, but this is not 
true. The early settlers were from a land of steady and religious 
habits. They were a church-going people. A valued correspond- 
ent observes : — " The proudest infidel the place now affords was 
baptized in infancy, and taught the catechism in his youth, and he 
says it took him twenty-five years' reading of infidel authors to 
efface the impressions made upon his mind by the religious instruc- 
tion he received when young." The Methodists, Baptists, and 
Christians, have each a religious establishment and house of wor- 



PRESBYTERY OF BATH. 



469> 



ship in the village of Naples. The relative strength of the Pres- 
byterians and Methodists is about the same. The Baptists and 
Christians are more feeble in pecuniary strength. 

Conhocton. — The settlement of this town began about the com- 
mencement of the present century. One of the first immigrants 
was Horace Fowler, afterwards a deacon of the church. Levi 
Fowler and John Slack, Esq., were early settlers. But the early 
settlers were not, at the time of their settlement, in the town, pious 
characters, and no attention for a considerable period was paid to 
religious worship. Not a single sermon was preached in the town 
till 1807, and but one professor of religion of the Congregational 
order resided in the town, and none of the Presbyterian. Some 
time in the year 1807, Elijah Parker and Stephen Crawford, with 
their wives, all members of Congregational churches, removed to 
the town. Public worship was soon after commenced upon the 
Sabbath, and has been continued from that time. In the month of 
May, 1809, Rev. Aaron C. Collins visited this feeble band of Chris- 
tians, and preached to them. In Jane following, Rev. Ahijah 
Warren visited and preached to them. The community engaged 
him to supply them with ministerial services one third of the time 
for one year. A Congregational church, consisting of nine mem- 
bers, was organized by him on the Lord's Day, Oct. 8th, 1809. 
The church had no connexion with any ecclesiastical body till Jan. 
30th, 1820, when it was received under the care of the Presbytery 
of Bath on the accommodating plan. Whether Mr. Warren con- 
tinued his labors longer than one year is not known to the writer. 
After his labors closed, the church was in a low state for a number 
of years, seldom enjoyed the opportunity of hearing a preached 
gospel, and endured much affliction, surrounded on all sides by 
irreligion. From the period of the organization of the church till 
1820, only twelve members were added to the church. In 1825 
the number consisted of forty-six. In 1833 it was one hundred 
and ten, but in 1848 only twenty-seven. In the month of Novem- 
ber, 1843, Rev. Stalham Clary removed into the place, and took 
charge of the church as a stated supply, and continued four years 
in that capacity, during which period his labors were very abun- 
dant, and attended by a good measure of success. Some souls were 
brought into the kingdom, and the church was increased to> the 
number of fifty members. While Mr. Clary continued, the mem- 
bers of the church made great exertions to support the ministra- 
tion of the gospel. Since the removal of Mr. Clary, Rev. Linus 
W. Billington, Rev. Joseph Crawford, Rev. Jeremiah Pomeroy, 
Rev. James H. Hotchkin, Rev. Sidney S. Brown, and others, have 
officiated as stated supplies for short seasons. A very considerable 
proportion of the time the church has been without stated ministra- 
tions, and has never had a regularly settled pastor. In the support. 



470 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



of Messrs. Clary, Billington, Crawford, and Brown, the aid of the 
American Home Missionary Society has been granted. 

In the summer of 1832, Rev. James Boyle held with this church 
a protracted meeting, which was continued through a number of 
days. The measures which were common with him and others of 
that class of evangelists were employed, and a state of high excite- 
ment was produced, and many professed to be converted, and no 
doubt some souls really were born again. A large number were 
received into the church, swelling its number to one hundred and 
ten members. It might seem that the days of the mourning of this 
church were now ended, and that she must now have acquired such 
a measure of strength as to be able in all future time to enjoy the 
stated ministrations of the gospel. But such was not the case. 
Very little pecuniary strength was acquired, a spirit of fanaticism 
was infused into the minds of many, and a state of preparation to 
be carried away with any delusion was induced. With respect to 
the converts, so called, the writer is unable to say what has become 
of them. He believes very few of them give satisfactory evidence 
of having been born again. In the winter of 1837-8, a very singu- 
lar state of things existed. Mrs. Conn, who had been a mem- 
ber of the church a number of years, and highly esteemed by some, 
at least, as a woman of piety and activity in promoting the cause 
of Christ, began to take a very conspicuous part in the meetings 
for social and religious worship. She professed to have special 
communications from God, and to know the secrets of the hearts of 
those with whom she was conversant. She assumed an authorita- 
tive position in the church, and gave out her directions as from 
God himself, denouncing as hypocrites in the church all who did 
not submit to her mandates. She predicted the speedy death, in a 
most awful manner, of particular individuals who opposed her 
authority, and manifested a most implacable rancor against all who 
did not acknowledge her inspiration. In her proceedings she was 
assisted by a young man, who for his misconduct had been excom- 
municated from the church of Prattsburgh. A number of the 
members of the church of Conhocton were carried away with this 
delusion, and acknowledged Mrs. Conn as one under the inspiration 
of the Almighty. So completely were they infatuated, that they 
seemed to suppose that their eternal salvation depended on the will 
of Mrs. Conn. They were ready to obey all her commands, and 
to assert as truth anything which she should order. Some of them 
became permanently deranged, and one or two families were nearly 
broken up. Nor was this delusion confined wholly to the church 
of Conhocton. Mrs. Conn and her coadjutor went into the county 
of Wyoming, and some in that region were brought under the 
delusion, and received her as a messenger sent from God. Whether 
to view Mrs. Conn as an impostor, a wild fanatic, or a deranged 
person, the writer will not assume the responsibility of determining. 



PRESBYTERY OF BATH. 



471 



Many circumstances would favor the idea of imposture. The 
writer is informed that she has become a maniac. This circum- 
stance may favor the idea of mental aberration. But the conse- 
quences to the church were most disastrous. For a season Mrs. 
Conn and her followers bore sway. , Nothing could be done in the 
way of discipline, and the church was completely disorganized. 
After some time had elapsed, the members of the church who 
remained steadfast met together, re-organized the church, adopted 
the Presbyterian mode of church government, and elected ruling 
elders. But the church has been small and feeble. This to some 
extent has been owing to local circumstances, but more to the 
prevailing irreligion around them. The church has a small but 
comfortable house of worship, located at the place which is called 
Liberty Corners. The Methodists have a house of worship in the 
same village. The Baptist church hold their worship in the north- 
ern part of the town. The mass of the population, it is believed, 
are not in the habit of attending worship anywhere. 

South Dansville. — Respecting the early settlement of this place 
the writer is not informed. A Presbyterian church consisting of a 
very few members was organized here, which was received under 
the care of the Presbytery of Bath, August 29th, 1820. In 1825 it 
was reported as consisting of ten members. In 1843 and in 1846, 
eighty is the number reported. The church for some years was 
fostered by Rev. Robert Hubbard, by whom it was organized, and 
occasionally might have received some other ministerial aid. But 
it did not flourish. In May, 1833, Rev. George P. King received 
a commission from the American Home Missionary Society to labor 
here. Whether he continued longer than one year is not known to 
the writer. In June, 1841, Rev. A. C. Dubois received a commis- 
sion from the Missionary Society to labor here, and continued his 
labors two years and three months. Rev. Sidney S. Brown labored 
here, under the patronage of the same society, two years, from 
June, 1845, one half of the time. In January, 1840, Rev. Augustus 
Littlejohn held a long protracted meeting, continued from day to 
day, and attended with the manner peculiar to himself. As the re- 
sult of this meeting a considerable addition was made to the church, 
but how much of spiritual or pecuniary strength was acquired the 
writer cannot say. In 1840 the Second Presbyterian Church of 
Howard was merged into this church. That church had a small 
house of worship, which is now used by the united church. The 
church is intermixed with other denominations, particularly Bap- 
tists, Methodists, and Christians, who are much more numerous than 
the Presbyterians. A large proportion of the population attend no 
place of worship. 

Howard Second Church. — This church was located in the north- 



472 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



western part of the town of Howard. It was organized in the year 

1825, by Rev. James H. Hotchkin and Rev. Stalham Clary, and 
was received under the care of the Presbytery of Bath, Feb. 22d, 

1826. It consisted at that time of twelve members, and never 
reported a higher number than fourteen. With one or two ex- 
ceptions it was always reported vacant. The church built a small 
house of worship, but it never flourished. On its request it was 
united to the church of South Dansville, by an act of the Presby- 
tery, August 25th, 1840. 

Howard. — This town was originally a part of the town of 
Canisteo. The settlement of it commenced in 1805, by four or 
five families who moved into it. But the settlement did not rapid- 
ly progress. In 1811, there were only about a dozen houses in the 
town. The first sermon ever delivered in Howard was probably 
preached by Rev. Samuel Parker, a missionary, in 1810. A Pres- 
byterian church w r as organized, July 5th, 1815, by Rev. David 
Higgins, of Bath, and Rev. Enoch Whipple, a missionary. It 
consisted of eight members, seven of whom were admitted on ex- 
amination, and one by letter. The church was received under the 
care of the Presbytery of Bath, August 29th, 1820. The number 
of members in 1825 was twenty-three; in 1832, sixty-five; and 
in 1848, ninety. For a number of years after the organization of 
the church, it was without a pastor or stated supply. Itinerant 
missionaries and neighboring ministers afforded some ministerial 
aid. Public worship was maintained, and the ordinances and dis- 
cipline of the gospel observed. In the summer of 1827, Rev. 
Lyman Barrett removed his family into the town, and took charge 
of the church as their stated supply. In this capacity he officiated 
till the summer of 1834. He was succeeded by Rev. Samuel T. 
Babbitt, who continued one year. Rev. William Goodale suc- 
ceeded in the summer of 1839, and remained three years. His 
successor was Rev. Gilbert Northrop, who supplied one year. 
His successor, Rev. J. G. L. Haskins, continued one year. Rev. 
Levi Rose commenced in October, 1844, and still continues. 
There have been several seasons of religious interest, and visita- 
tions of the Holy Spirit, enjoyed by this church. In 1831, during 
the period of Mr. Barrett's ministry, the gracious influences of the 
Spirit were shed down on the church and congregation, and as the 
result, thirty-five members were added to the church by profession. 
Under the ministry of Mr. Babbitt there was a period of high ex- 
citement, connected with a protracted meeting, which brought an 
addition of thirty members to the church. Other seasons of special 
interest have been enjoyed, in which the church has been enlarged 
and strengthened. The church has been aided by the American 
Home Missionary Society, in the support of most of its ministers. 
They now support without aid. They have an appropriate house 



PRESBYTERY OF BATH. 



473 



of worship, located at the village of Howard Flats. It was erect- 
ed in 1835-6, and is forty-eight feet in length and thirty-six in 
breadth. In the winter of 1844, it took fire, and was with diffi- 
culty saved from total destruction. It is now repaired and in good 
condition for use. The congregation on the Sabbath, in pleasant 
weather, may amount to two hundred and thirty attendants. 
The Baptist Church has a house of worship in the village, erected 
at the same time with that of the Presbyterians. They have an 
officiating elder. There is a small church of Scotch Irish Seceders 
in the south-eastern part of the town, consisting of thirty or forty 
members. They have a small house of worship, but are destitute 
of stated preaching, and are in a feeble state. There are in the 
town several classes of Methodists, and some Christians. The 
Universalists are the predominant sect in the village, and have an 
ownership in the Baptist house of worship, and occupy it one 
Sabbath in each month. Their Society numbers some of the most 
influential men in the town as to civil affairs, but is thought to be 
on the decline. 

Kennedy ville. — This small village is located in the town of Bath 
adjacent to the town of Avoca,in which there is another small village 
called Avoca. The Presbyterian Church of Kennedyville is com- 
posed of persons residing in these two villages and their vicinity. 
It was organized October 18th, 1831, by a committee of the Pres- 
bytery of Bath, consisting of Rev. David Higgins, Rev. Lyman 
Barrett, and Mr. James G. Higgins, ruling-elder. It consisted of 
fourteen members taken from the church of Bath, and was taken 
under the care of the Presbytery, January 31st, 1832. In 1833, it 
numbered seventy-six members ; in 1834, ninety-nine ; and in 1843, 
forty. Rev. David Higgins officiated as stated supply from 
January, 1833, to the close of April, 1834. Rev. Edwin Bronson 
supplied one year from December, 1834. Rev. Lyman Barrett 
succeeded him for a period of six months. Rev. Ebenezer Everett 
commenced ministering to the church in September, 1836, and con- 
tinued three years. Rev. Oren Johnson was the stated supply from 
the autumn of 1841, two years. Since Mr. Johnson's departure the 
church has been vacant. In the summer of 1832, Rev. James 
Boyle held a long protracted meeting with this church, as the im- 
mediate result of which more than fifty individuals were added to 
the church on their profession of faith. 'But the final result was not 
as happy as was desired. Many of the converts so called, aposta- 
tized, and others gave little or no evidence of piety. This circum- 
stance, with the great number of removals of members to other parts 
of the country, has reduced the church to a very low state. They 
have had no stated preaching for several years, and stated public 
worship has been intermitted. The prospects of the church are 
very unpromising. In the support of its ministers, it has been aided 



474 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



by the American Home Missionary Society. The church has a 
commodious house of worship located in the village of Kennedy ville, 
which was erected in 1833, and is forty-six feet in length and thirty- 
eight in breadth. It has been seldom occupied for two or three 
years past. There is another house for worship in the village, 
erected by the Universalists and Christians, and formerly occupied 
by the two denominations alternately. For some years past it has 
seldom been occupied. In the village of Avoca the Methodists 
have a commodious house of worship and a respectable society. 
There is a small church of German Lutherans, the members of 
which live in the towns of Avoca and Wheeler. They have no 
house of worship. 

Wheeler. — The settlement of this town commenced about the 
year 1800. Philip Murtle, Capt. Silas Wheeler, and Thomas Aulls, 
Esq., were among the first settlers. For many years after the set- 
tlement of the town commenced, no stated public worship was 
attended. An occasional sermon from a travelling missionary, or a 
neighboring minister, was enjoyed, and this for some years was the 
amount of religious services which were held. The Sabbath was 
greatly desecrated, and no encouraging appearances were exhibited. 
About the commencement of the year 1815, Rev. James H. Hotch- 
kin began to preach occasionally on the West Hill near the northern 
line of the town, where two of the members of the church of 
Prattsburgh, of which he was pastor, resided. This, in process of 
time, became a stated service on a week-day once in two weeks. 
He also frequently preached in the eastern part of the town on the 
creek, as did also Rev. David Higgins of Bath. Two or three 
individuals on the creek were members of the church of Bath. In 
the latter part of the year 1818, and the beginning of the following 
year, a considerable measure of religious interest was felt in the 
neighborhood of Mr. Hotchkin's lectures. A season of revival was 
enjoyed, and a goodly number hopefully born again. As the result 
of this revival, a Baptist church and a Methodist class were orga- 
nized, and eight individuals united themselves to the church in 
Prattsburgh of which Mr. Hotchkin w 7 as pastor. In the latter part 
of the year 1824, Rev. Beriah Hotchkin commenced preaching in 
the town of Wheeler, and continued his ministrations each alternate 
Sabbath for one year. During this period a Presbyterian Church 
was organized, composed of members taken from the churches of 
Prattsburgh and Bath. This church was taken under the care of 
the Presbytery of Bath, August 30th, 1825. The next year it con- 
sisted of twenty-three members, which is the highest number ever 
reported. The church, for a season, maintained the stated worship 
of God on the Sabbath, and enjoyed to some extent the preaching 
of the gospel. But an unhappy case of discipline occurred, the 
result of which was to create disaffection and alienation of feeling 



PRESBYTERY OF BATH. 



475 



in the church. The meetings were broken up, and the Session and 
church as such ceased all action. Some members of Presbyterian 
churches from abroad moved into the place, and found no acting 
church with which to unite. Some instances of hopeful conversion 
had taken place, and the individuals wished to connect themselves 
with a Presbyterian church. Under these circumstances, applica- 
tion was made to the Presbytery for the formation of a new church. 
A committee, of which Rev. Messrs. Higgins and Rudd were mem- 
bers, was appointed to meet at Wheeler, and organize a church, if 
judged expedient. The committee met, October 19th, 1831, and 
organized a church of nine members, of whom five were males and 
four females. Five of these had been members of churches in the 
places from which they had removed, and four w r ere received on 
examination. In February following, ten members were received 
by letter from the original church, leaving to that church not more 
than eight or nine resident members. The new church, by the name 
of the church of Centre Wheeler, was received under the care of 
the Presbytery of Bath, January 31st, 1832. It then consisted of 
twenty-one members. In 1836, it numbered forty members. From 
that period the number has been diminishing. In 1846, the num- 
ber was twenty-two. In 1833, most of the remaining members of 
the original church united with the new one, and that church be- 
came extinct. In 1832, the new church erected and completed a 
small but commodious house of worship, which was dedicated to 
the worship of Almighty God, January 10th, 1833 : Rev. David 
Higgins preached the sermon on the occasion. In the month of 
February of the last mentioned year, Rev. James H. Hotchkin 
commenced laboring in this congregation, and was installed as pas- 
tor of the church on the 17th day of September of the same year. 
He continued in the pastorate four years from the commencement 
of his labors with them, and was dismissed February 17th, 1837. 
At the commencement of Mr. Hotchkin's ministry, the prospects of 
the church appeared somewhat flattering. The community seemed 
to be assuming a more orderly position, the difficulties of the church 
vanishing, and the members of the church manifesting a determi- 
nation to enjoy the ordinances of the gospel. A measure of revival 
was enjoyed, which brought an addition of members to the church. 
During Mr. Hotchkin's ministry thirty-seven members were received 
into the church by letter and examination ; twenty-one were dis- 
missed with letters to other churches, among whom were two of 
the elders ; some removed without letters, two were suspended, 
and one or two deceased. Rut though the number of members was 
somewhat enlarged, its pecuniary ability was actually diminished, 
and from the period of Mr. Hotchkin's dismission the church rapidly 
declined, through the removals of so many of its important mem- 
bers. Rev. Elijah Wollage officiated as stated supply in 1838 and 
1839, and Rev. Flavel S. Gaylord, principal of the Academy in 



476 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Prattsburgh, supplied the pulpit each alternate Sabbath for two or 
three years. Some others have supplied for short periods. At the 
present time the church is vacant, and its prospects are gloomy. 
The death of Thomas Aulls, Esq., one of its ruling elders, and a 
most able supporter, which occurred in August, 1846, was to this 
church and community a most afflicting event. 

This church has received the aid of the American Home Mis- 
sionary Society in the support of Mr. Hotchkin and Mr. W ollage. 
The Baptist church in Wheeler has become extinct. A Free Will 
Baptist church was organized some years since in the north part of 
the town, which the writer believes still has an existence, though 
in a decayed state. The Methodist denomination have a house of 
worship on the hill west of the valley. They are the only denomi- 
nation in Wheeler at all in a flourishing state. 

Hammondsport. — This village is situated at the head of the 
Crooked lake in the town of Urbana. The extensive valley which 
constitutes the most important part of the town was early known 
by the appellation of " Pleasant Valley." The settlement of this 
valley commenced in 1793. William Aulls, the father of the late 
Thomas Aulls, Esq., of Wheeler, was the first, or one of the first 
settlers. He was from Pennsylvania, and, at the time of his re- 
moval, was a member of the Presbyterian church. He was one of 
the original members of the church of Bath, and was punctual in 
his attendance on public worship at the village of Bath, until old 
age and bodily infirmities prevented, though living at the distance 
of seven miles from the village. And here let it be noticed, that 
when public worship was set up in Prattsburgh, and the only place 
where public worship was practised in all the region, an elderly 
woman, of Dutch extract, who lived in Urbana, at a distance of 
eight or ten miles from Prattsburgh, occasionally came there on foot 
to attend worship with the people of God, and hear the word of 
salvation dispensed. Her path must have been through a forest, 
with very few habitations by the way. Such, however, were not 
the feelings of the mass of the early settlers in Pleasant Valley. 
Some of them were respectable in a civil point of view, benevolent 
and generous, strict moralists in most points, intelligent and good 
citizens of the civil community, but sceptical on the subject of reli- 
gion, and regardless of the ordinances of the gospel. Under such 
influences, a generation has been trained up, and the consequences 
are seen in the defective views entertained by many of the more 
respectable class concerning the gospel and its institutions. 

The village of Hammondsport was founded in 1826. Wil- 
liam Hastings, who is now a member of the Presbyterian church, 
erected the first store, and commenced mercantile -business. The 
settlement of the village progressed, and on the first of July, 1831, 
Rev. Isaac Flagler commenced preaching as a stated supply to the 



PRESBYTERY OF BATH. 477 

people. On the twenty-fifth day of that month, a religious society 
was organized according to the law of the State, and a Presbyte- 
rian church, consisting of eight members, was organized, Sept. 14th, 
1831, by a committee of the Presbytery of Bath, consisting of Rev. 
Isaac W. Piatt, Rev. Samuel White, and two elders. The mem- 
bers of the church were taken from the church of Bath. The 
church thus organized, was recognised by the Presbytery, Jan. 
31st, 1832. The next spring after organization it reported forty- 
five members; in 1836, eighty-two ; and in 1846, one hundred and 
fifteen. Mr. Flagler continued to officiate as stated supply till 
January, 1833, when he left. In April following, he was succeed- 
ed by Rev. William M. Adams, who officiated as stated supply till 
September, 1834. In January, 1835, Rev. George E. Delavan 
commenced laboring as stated supply, and continued till Septem- 
ber, 1837. In January following, Rev. Robert E. Willson entered 
upon this field of labor, was ordained and installed pastor of the 
church, Dec. 4th, 1838, and still continues in the pastorate. During 
the period of Mr. Flagler's ministry the church received frequent 
accessions both by letter and profession. At the time of his leav- 
ing there was an unusual state of religious feeling prevailing. Rev. 
Moses Ordway was invited to hold a series of religious meetings, 
and as the result of this protracted effort, seventeen members were 
added to the church by profession. Under the ministry of Mr. 
Adams, there were frequent additions to the church, but no general 
revival. In the winter of 1836-37, while Mr. Delavan was stated 
supply, an outpouring of the Spirit w T as witnessed, and as the result 
thirty members have been added by profession to the church. At 
several times since the present pastor commenced his labors, there 
have been movings of the Divine Spirit on the minds and hearts of 
the community, and a goodly number have been brought into the 
church. 

This church, like most others, has from time to time been greatly 
weakened by the removal of its members to other parts of the 
country, and though its members generally have been very liberal 
in their contributions for the support of the ministry, they have 
been under the necessity of receiving continued aid from the Ame- 
rican Home Missionary Society. At an early period Mr. William 
Hastings built a small, but tolerably convenient house for worship, 
designed for temporary use. The Society has lately erected a 
spacious and convenient edifice, which is furnished with a bell. 

There is an Episcopal Society in this village. They have a 
house of worship, and a clergyman of the strictest sect of Episco- 
palians. Previous to the organization of any church in this village, 
Rev. Mr. Savage, a respectable clergyman of the Baptist denomi- 
nation, preached for a considerable period in the place. 



Bath.— In the month of April, 1792, Robert Morris sold to Col. 



478 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Charles Williamson all that immense tract of land, which was 
afterwards known as the Pulteney Estate, including the principal 
part, or the whole of the original county of Steuben. The same 
year Col. Williamson located himself and family at Bath, and laid 
out a village, in the full belief, as the place was at the head of ark 
navigation on the Susquehannah, that it would constitute the cen- 
tre of business for Western New York. Col. Williamson, as a 
European, entertained the views, and was addicted to the habits, 
of Europeans of his grade. He soon erected a theatre, and pre- 
pared a race- course for the lovers of pleasure. But no preparation 
was made for the worship of God. The first settlers w T ere princi- 
pally from Europe, or the States of Maryland and Virginia, with, a 
sprinkling of Yankees, who came in to make money. The early 
state of society was|very dissolute. The Sabbath was disregarded ; 
drinking, gambling, carousing, horse-racing, attending the theatre, 
with other concomitant vices, were very general, and numbers of 
those who moved in the high circle were exceedingly depraved in 
their habits. But, it deserves notice, that at this dissolute period, 
an obscure individual of the Baptist denomination, plain and illite- 
rate, but very pious, upheld public worship. This man's name was 
Streeter. He drew around him upon the Sabbath in some humble 
building, a little circle, mostly of colored people, prayed and sang 
with them, read a portion of Scripture, and talked to them about 
the salvation of the soul. Some called it preaching, but Mr. 
Streeter did not. He denied being a preacher, entertained humble 
views of himself, but claimed the privilege of addressing his fellow 
men on the subjects which concern salvation. There was at that 
period a large proportion of slaves in Bath and its immediate vici- 
nity. . Some of them were pious ; and among the white population, 
there were a few pious individuals. Mrs. Townsend, the wife of 
Henry A. Townsend, Esq., was, in the early period of the history 
of the village of Bath, a light shining in a dark place. A travelling 
missionary occasionally visited this place, and preached a sermon, 
or spent a Sabbath. In 1807, Rev. John Niles, as has been stated, 
moved into Prattsburgh, and some time afterwards commenced 
preaching in Bath a part of the time. Some success attended his 
labors, and a few instances of hopeful conversion took place. He 
organized a church consisting of fourteen, members, Jan. 3d, 1808. 
Of these fourteen, several ot them resided at a considerable dis- 
tance from the village of Bath. The congregation of Bath at this 
early period might be considered as extended over what is now 
embraced by the congregations of Bath, Kennedyville, a part of 
Wheeler, and Hammondsport. The church conducted its disci- 
pline on the Congregational plan, and was not connected with any 
ecclesiastical judicatory till Sept. 18th, 1811, when it was received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, and on the organiza- 
tion of the Presbytery of Bath was assigned to the care of that 



PRESBYTERY OF BATH. 



479 



body. The church, soon after its reception by the Presbytery, on 
the advice of that body, and with a view to allay animosities arising, 
adopted the Presbyterian form of church government in full. On 
the seventh day of July, 1808, Mr. Niles was installed pastor of 
the church by a committee of the Ontario Association, of which 
body he was a member. Mr. Niles continued as the pastor of the 
church till his death, which occurred Sept. 13th, 1812. During Mr, 
Niles's ministry, or at least the early part of it, public worship was 
held a part of the time at the mouth of the Five Mile Creek, a little 
above where the village of Kennedyville now stands, and a part of 
the time in the school-house in Pleasant Valley, near Judge Baker's; 
but at least half of the time in the village of Bath, in the old court- 
house. During the pastorate of Mr. Niles, about twenty members 
were added to the church. Rev. David Higgins received a unani- 
mous call to become the pastor of the church, Dec. 7th, 1812, and 
was installed into office, July 1st, 1813. Mr. Higgins labored with 
various degrees of success from time to time till June 21st, 1831^ 
when he was dismissed from his pastoral charge. During the 
whole period of Mr. Higgins's ministry there was a gradual increase 
of the number of members in the church, so that at his dismission it 
numbered one hundred and seventeen members. There were seve- 
ral seasons of more than ordinary attention, in which some were 
born into the kingdom. Near the close of his ministry, there was 
a revival of considerable extent, and as the result, thirty-six united 
with the church. Rev. Isaac W. Piatt was installed pastor of the 
Church, Sept. 1st, 1831. A considerable addition was made to the 
church during the first year of his ministry, by profession. In 
1836, the church reported one hundred and forty-four members, a 
larger number than had ever before been reported. In 1837, the 
Exscinding Act of the General Assembly took place. Mr. Piatt 
strongly sympathized with the old school party. The Presbytery 
of Bath took a decided stand against the action of the General As- 
sembly. Under these circumstances, Mr. Piatt, on Sabbath, August 
27th, 1837, notified a meeting of the church to be attended the next 
day, for the purpose of taking into consideration the relations of 
the church. At this meeting, it is said, some thirty-five or forty 
members, the major part females, were present, and instructed the 
Session to take immediate measures to procure the admission of the 
church into the Presbytery of Susquehannah. Two of the three 
elders were opposed entirely to the measure, and took no part in it. 
Mr. Piatt and the other elders set out the next day to attend the 
meeting of the Presbytery of Susquehannah, and Mr. Piatt was 
received as a member, and the church taken under the care of that 
Presbytery. The church at this time consisted of about one hun- 
dred and thirty members. 

At the meeting of the Presbytery of Bath, in January following 
this event, a memorial was laid before the Presbytery, signed by 



480 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



twenty of the members of the church including two of the elders, 
stating their circumstances, and praying to be re-organized as " The 
Church of Bath, under the care of the Presbytery of Bath." The 
Presbytery " Resolved that the memorialists and others who may 
within six months return to them, be authorized to proceed to elect 
officers, and commence a record, and do all other things consistent 
with their connexion with this body, considered as a vacant 
church." Mr. Hotchkin was directed to visit them and supply 
them one Sabbath. In obedience to this direction he visited them 
within a few days after the meeting of the Presbytery. Nineteen 
of the memorialists met, and a re-commencement of action in the 
capacity of a church took place. The church, in 1840, had in- 
creased to the number of forty-four members. In 1847, it was 
seventy-six, and in November, 1845, ninety. The church was 
sometimes vacant, sometimes supplied by neighboring minis- 
ters, and for short periods by stated supplies. Rev. George 
H. Hastings, and Rev. Orris Fraser, then licentiates, supplied for 
a season each. Also, Rev. William L. Strong, for a season. 
Rev. Orris Fraser was ordained and installed pastor of the church, 
Jan. 27th, 1841, and continued in the pastorate till May 16th, 1843, 
when the pastoral relation was dissolved. He was followed by 
Rev. Hiram Gregg, as stated supply for about six months ; and 
he, by Rev. Samuel Porter, for a season. Rev. Sabin M'Kinney 
succeeded, and was employed one year. In June, 1845, Rev. 
Loren W. Russ commenced labor with the church, and was or- 
dained and installed pastor, Nov. 11th, 1845. He was dismissed 
from his pastoral relation, May 16th, 1848, having announced his 
intention to unite with the Episcopal Church. Several seasons of 
ingathering have been enjoyed, and the church has been much 
blessed. They have been for several years, and still are, aided by 
the American Home Missionary Society. They have a house of 
worship, forty-six feet in length, and thirty in breadth, with a fine 
bell, and well arranged, which was erected in 1841. The ordinary 
congregation is from two to three hundred. 

The other branch of the church, in connexion with the pastor, 
Mr. Piatt, remained attached to the Presbytery of Susquehannah, 
till the organization of the Presbytery of Steuben, when they w T ere 
assigned to that body. Mr. Piatt was dismissed from his pastoral 
charge in April, 1844. The number of members in the church at 
his dismission was one hundred and twenty-three. Rev. L. Mer- 
rill Miller was ordained and installed as pastor, Oct. 8th, 1844, and 
still retains his station. The church in 1846, numbered one hun- 
dred and thirty-two members. It holds the property which be- 
longed to the church before the disruption, and has a good house of 
worship, sufficient to hold a large congregation, and is located in 
a very commanding position. It was erected in 1824. Between 
the two churches there is a more friendly state of feeling than for- 



PRESBYTERY OF BATH. 



481 



merly existed ; and it is to be hoped that, in future, the only rival- 
ry between them will be, which can do most to promote the pros- 
perity of Zion, and exemplify the Christian character. 

Besides the Presbyterian, there are four other houses of worship 
in the village : the Methodist, the Episcopalian, the Baptist, and 
the African, to all of which are attached respectable congregations. 

Cameron. — This church was organized, probably, in the year 
1840, and was received under the care of the Presbytery of Che- 
mung, Sept. 23d of that year. It was transferred, by act of the 
Synod, to the Presbytery of Bath, Oct. 4th, 1842. It has always 
been a small and feeble church, and the principal part of the time 
destitute of the stated preaching of the gospel. Rev. William B. 
Stowe, under the patronage of the American Home Missionary 
Society, officiated as stated supply one year from December, 1845. 
The church has, to some extent, been supplied by others. Its num- 
ber of members, at any period, is not known to the writer. 

Hornellsville. — -This town was formerly a part of the town of 
Canisteo, which originally embraced the present towns of Canisteo, 
Hornellsville, Hartsville, Greenwood, Cameron, and a part of 
Jasper and Woodhull. Hornellsville was familiarly known as 
Upper Canisteo. The settlement of the town commenced near 
the close of the last century. Hon. George Hornell, Hon. Christo- 
pher Hurlbut, two families of the name of Stephens, and one of the 
name of Crosby, were among the first settlers, and were almost the 
only ones down to a period as late as 1810. As early as 1810, 
itinerant preachers of the Methodist denomination began to visit 
the settlement, and occasionally preached. In 1809, '10. and '11, 
Rev. Samuel Parker, missionary from Massachusetts, occasionally 
preached in this place, and under his labors Judge Hornell and one 
or two of his family were hopefully converted to God. In 1810, 
Rev. Robert Hubbard visited this region as a missionary. In the 
spring of 1812, a Presbyterian church was organized in Alfred 
(now Almond), with which a few individuals in Hornellsville united. 
Mr. Hubbard was ordained and installed pastor of this church and 
that of Angelica, by the Presbytery of Bath, August 20th, 1812. 
During the continuance of Mr. Hubbard's ministry, down to the 
period of 1829, he statedly preached a small part of the time at 
Hornellsville, and considered it a part of his charge. After Mr. 
Hubbard's dismission, other ministers laboring at Almond considered 
Hornellsville as included in their field of labor. 

In June, 1832, Rev. Moses Ordway in connexion with Rev. 
Robert Hubbard held a protracted meeting in this place, which 
was continued for a period often days, the result of which was the 
hopeful conversion of a number of individuals, mostly heads of 
families. On the tenth day of July following, Rev. Moses Ordway 

31 



482 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



and Rev. Moses Hunter organized a Presbyterian church in this 
place, consisting of twenty-nine members, twelve of whom were 
received by letters from other churches, and seventeen on profes- 
sion. The church w T as received under the care of the Presbytery 
of Bath, August 26th, 1834. In 1846, it consisted of sixty 
members. 

In 1832 and part of 1833, Rev. George B. King was stated 
supply six or eight months. In March, 1834, Rev. Moses Hunter 
became stated supply and so continued about three years, preach- 
ing every Sabbath at Horriellsville, Almond, and Arkport. Rev. 
Benjamin Russell succeeded him for a season. Rev. John W. 
Hopkins was ordained and installed pastor of the church, Nov. 
13th, 1839, and continued till his death, which occurred Feb. 9th, 
1841. From that period till January, 1842, Rev. Charles B. Smith 
supplied most of the time. He was followed by Rev. Elias S. 
Peck for one year, and he, by Rev. Thomas M. Hodgman for two 
years. In April, 1846, Rev. Foster Lilly succeeded, and still con- 
tinues as stated supply. Besides the revival which gave rise to 
the organization of the church, there was one of considerable extent 
in 1834, under the ministry of Mr. Hunter. In 1839 there was a 
considerable addition to the church, as also in 1841. The church 
has been aided by the American Home Missionary Society in the 
support of all its ministers except Mr. Hunter. It has a commodi- 
ous house of worship, fifty-nine feet in length and forty in breadth, 
and finished in a plain but neat manner, in 1834, at an expense of 
about $3000. The Methodist denomination have also a house of 
worship in the village, and throughout the town may number about 
as many members as the Presbyterians. There are some Baptists 
intermixed with the other denominations. It is estimated that more 
than half of the inhabitants of the town do not attend public wor- 
ship with any denomination. 

Jasper. — At some period between 1805 and 1810, Andrew 
Simpson from Washington county (N. Y.) and Adam Brotzman and 
Nicholas Brotzman from New Jersey, and Ebenezer Spencer, ori- 
ginally from Connecticut, settled within the territory now included 
within the town of Jasper. Others came on soon after them. But 
there seems to have been no religious affinity between the early 
settlers. Occasional preaching by Methodists and others was held, 
but no regular stated worship was held before 1825. About that 
period, or soon after, a number of immigrants from the State of 
New Hampshire, among whom Deacon Enoch Ordway was a con- 
spicuous character, commenced public worship on the Sabbath, by 
holding what were denominated reading meetings, and instituted a 
Sabbath school. From that period public worship and a Sabbath 
school have been maintained in that part of the town known as the 
Hampshire Settlement. A Presbyterian church, consisting of 



PRESBYTERY OF BATH. 



483 



twenty-four members, of whom six were males and eighteen 
females, was organized Oct. 29th, 1829, by Rev. David Higgins, 
Rev. Lyman Barrett, and Elder Israel Baldwin, a committee of the 
Presbytery of Bath. The church was received under the care of 
the Presbytery Jan. 26th, 1830, and was transmitted to the Pres- 
bytery of Chemung on the organization of that body. It was, on 
its application, restored to the Presbytery of Bath by the Synod, 
in October, 1847. The church numbered at the last report fifty- 
eight members. As stated supplies for different periods, Rev. 
Messrs. Elijah Wollage, Jeremiah Pomeroy, Oren Johnson, Robert 
Hubbard ; Noah Cressey, and Thomas W. Duncan, have officiated 
at different times. Several of these have supplied another congre- 
gation at the same time, dividing their labors betwixt the two. In 
September, 1846, Rev. George T. Everest commenced laboring as 
a stated supply to this church, and was installed as pastor in De- 
cember, 1847. In the latter part of 1831 and the former part of 
the next year, the church experienced the reviving influences of the 
Divine Spirit, and as the result twenty-four members were added 
to the church by profession. In 1835 eight were added by pro- 
fession, and in 1839 and '40 nine were so added, indicating that the 
good Spirit of God had not forsaken his heritage. 

This church had been aided in the support of most of its minis- 
ters by the American Home Missionary Society. It still continues 
to receive aid. In 1845 the church commenced building a mode- 
rate sized house of worship, which was completed the next year, 
soon after which it was consumed by fire. The church, though 
feeble, immediately commenced building another, which, by the 
blessing of the Almighty on their endeavors, was completed and 
dedicated in December, 1847. There are intermixed with the 
Presbyterians, Episcopal, Wesleyan, and Protestant Methodists, 
Baptists, and Christians. The last are principally in the southern 
part of the town. The Baptists have a house of worship, but their 
church is small. It is estimated that about one-third of the attend- 
ants on public worship meet with the Presbyterians. Probably 
the majority of the inhabitants of the town do not attend public 
worship with any denomination, and many of them are exceedingly 
irreligious. 



484 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

Synod of Genesee. — Presbytery of Rochester : — Webster, Penfield, Bushnell's Basin, 
Pittsford, Brighton, Rochester First, Rochester Brick Church, Rochester Third, 
Rochester Free, Rochester Washington Street, North Rochester, Parma and Greece, 
Parma, Parma Corners, Ciarkson, Murray, Holley, Brockport, Sweden, Ogden, 
Adams's Basin, Gates, Henrietta, Chili, Churchville, Riga, North Bergen, Bergen, 
Wheatland, Rush, West Mendon, Mendon. 

We now pass from the churches under the -care of the Synod of 
Geneva to those which are connected with 

THE SYNOD OF GENESEE. 
And beginning at the north-eastern angle we commence with 

THE PRESBYTEEY OF ROCHESTER. 

Webster. — The town of Webster was taken from the town of 
Penfield. The settlement of the town must have commenced about 
the year 1800. The church was originally designated the church 
of North Penfield and Ontario, and sometimes, Penfield Second 
Church, and North Penfield. It was organized August 25th, 1825, 
consisting of eleven members, taken, as the writer believes, wholly 
or in part from the original church of Penfield. It was taken under 
the care of the Presbytery of Rochester, Sept. 20th, 1825. In 
1826, it reported sixteen members; in 1831, one hundred and -nine; 
in 1834, one hundred and forty-three ; and in 1847, one hundred 
and twenty-eight. Rev. Richard Dunning commenced ministerial 
labor with the congregation in the early part of the year 1829, and 
was ordained and installed as pastor, June 3d, 1830. He continued 
to sustain the pastoral office till Feb. 5th, 1835, when he was 
dismissed from his charge. Under his labors the Spirit was poured 
out in his sanctifying and saving influences, and as many as seventy 
or eighty united with the church on a profession of faith in Christ. 
In the support of Mr. Dunning they were aided by the American 
Home Missionary Society. Since Mr. Dunning's dismission the 
church employed stated supplies the most of the time till 1841. 
On the fifth day of January of that year, Rev. Lemuel Brooks was 
installed as pastor of the church, and still continues in that relation. 
They have a house of worship erected in 1830. 

Penfield. — This is the original church of that name, sometimes 



PRESBYTERY OF ROCHESTER. 



485 



denominated the Church of South Penfield, and sometimes, Penfield 
First Church. It was organized a Congregational Church consist- 
ing of fifteen members by Rev. Reuben Parmele of Victor. It 
was then called the church of Northfield, as the town of Northfield 
at that period comprehended the present towns of Perrinton, 
Pittsford, Henrietta, Brighton, Irondequoit, Penfield, Webster, and 
that part of the city of Rochester which lies east of the Genesee 
river. The church was received into connexion with the Ontario 
Association, June 10th, 1806, and continued the connexion till the 
dissolution of that body. In the beginning of the year 1814, the 
church adopted the Presbyterian form of government, and was 
received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, April 19th 
of that year. From this Presbytery it was transferred to the 
Presbytery of Ontario, and subsequently to the Presbytery of 
Rochester, on the erection of those Presbyteries. During the two 
years succeeding the organization, twenty-nine members were 
added to the church. In 1825, it reported fifty-eight as the whole 
number of its members ; in 1831, one hundred and seven ; and in 
1837, one hundred. From the period of its organization till 1816, 
no regular stated administration of gospel ordinances was enjoyed : 
the preaching of the gospel, and administration of sacraments, was 
only occasional. It is believed, however, that the church main- 
tained regular stated worship upon the Sabbath. In 1816, Rev. 
Asa Carpenter commenced ministering to the church one half of 
the time for two years ; after two years, the whole of the time, as 
the writer believes, till 1825. He was succeeded by Rev. Garret 
Hallenback for two years, and he by Rev. Eber Child for one year. 
In December, 1828, Rev. Lemuel Brooks, then a licentiate, succeed- 
ed, w T ho was ordained and installed pastor of the church, March 
18th, 1829, and dismissed, Oct. 19th, 1830. After the dismission of 
Mr. Brooks, Rev. Elijah Buck, Rev. Simeon Peck, Rev. Conrad 
Ten Eyck, and Rev. Moses Ordway, were severally employed as 
stated supplies for one year, or about that period. They were 
succeeded by Rev. Albert G. Hall, then a licentiate, in May, 1835, 
who was ordained and installed pastor of the church, Feb. 24th, 
1836. He was dismissed, Feb. 5th, 1840. Since the dismission of 
Mr. Hall, several ministers have been employed as stated supplies. 
The present supply, Rev. J. H. Young, commenced his labors in 
September, 1845. 

Under the ministry of Mr. Carpenter, in 1818, a precious season 
of revival was enjoyed, which added to the church twenty-one 
members. In 1831, thirty-nine members were reported as having 
been added, by profession, within the year preceding. The church 
has a commodious house of worship, a brick edifice, erected in 
1823, and capable of seating from six hundred to eight hundred 
persons. The church was aided by the American Home Missionary 
Society in the support of Mr. Hall. 



486 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



BushnelVs Basin. — This is a small village on the Erie canal, in 
the town of Perrinton. A church was organized here in 1832, or 
the beginning of 1833, which was recognised by the Presbytery of 
Rochester, and reported as under their care, in 1833 and 1834. In 
1833, it consisted of twelve members; in 1834, it had increased to 
twenty-four. Since 1834, it has not been reported. The writer 
supposes that it withdrew from its connexion with the Presbytery, 
though he finds no mention of it on the records of the Presbytery. 

Pittsford. — The village of Pittsford is the locality which former- 
ly constituted the centre of business for the original town of North- 
field. This town was organized in 1794. In 1798, the name was 
changed to Boyle. In 1813, it was divided into three towns, named 
Perrinton, Penfield, and Smallwood, the latter embracing the terri- 
tory now constituting the towns of Pittsford, Henrietta, Brighton, 
Irondequoit, and that part of the city of Rochester w T hich lies east 
of the Genesee river. Smallwood was soon afterwards divided ; 
the part now forming the towns of Pittsford and Henrietta, was 
constituted a town by the name of Pittsford, a number of the in- 
habitants having formerly resided in Pittsford, Vermont. The 
other division was named Brighton. In 1818, the town of Hen- 
rietta was detached from Pittsford. Of the early settlement of 
the town of Pittsford, we have spoken in another place. It com- 
menced in 1790. The first school w T as instituted in 1794, and 
taught by Mr. Barrows, in a log-house, one mile south of the village, 
which served for a school-house and place for worship. The first 
frame house was built in 1795, and is still standing. 

The first sermon which the early colonists had the privilege of 
hearing, was preached by a travelling missionary, said to be from 
Virginia, who visited them on a week-day, during the season of har- 
vest. General notice was given of the meeting, and all who were 
able assembled in a barn to hear the gospel. Several years, how- 
ever, elapsed before stated public worship was established and 
maintained. Occasional preaching was enjoyed, and sometimes a 
minister employed for a short period. The writer, then a licentiate 
preacher, preached six Sabbaths, in the interval between Nov. 8th, 
1801, and Feb. 1st, 1802. This he believes was the first instance 
in which the people of this place ever employed a preacher of 
the Congregational or Presbyterian denomination. A Congrega- 
tional church was organized May 11th, 1809, by Rev. Solomon Al- 
len, and was constituted by the recognition of ten individuals as 
" persons giving satisfactory evidence of true piety and soundness 
of faith." The church thus formed, was received into connexion 
with the Ontario Association the next June, and after the dissolu- 
tion of that body, on the twentieth day of April, 1814, it was re- 
ceived under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, on the accom- 
modating plan. From this Presbytery it was transferred to the 



PRESBYTERY OF ROCHESTER. 



487 



Presbytery of Ontario, and from that to the Presbytery of Roches- 
ter, on the organization of that body, in 1819. In 1815, the num- 
ber of members was the same as at the organization, though not 
composed wholly of the same individuals. In 1818, the number 
was thirty-seven ; in 1826, forty-two : in 1831, one hundred and 
fifty-nine ; and in 1846, one hundred and ninety-five. 

Previous to the organization of the church, and for some time 
afterwards, the stated preaching of the gospel was not enjoyed. 
Rev. Solomon Allen officiated here as stated supply for a season, 
the writer believes for a year, in 1810 and '11. After him Rev. 
Silas Hubbard was employed for a season. Rev. Aaron C. Collins 
officiated a part of the time during a part of the years 1817 and '18. 
After him Rev. Ezekiel J. Chapman for a few months. In the 
autumn of 1818, Rev. Chauncey Cook was employed as a stated 
supply, and continued two years. During the four succeeding 
years, the church was under the care of Rev. John Taylor, who 
preached here and at Mendon alternately. During the winter of 
1824 and '25, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Ralph Cushman. The 
next spring Rev. William F. Curry, then a licentiate, commenced 
preaching in the congregation, and was ordained and installed pas- 
tor of the church, July 14th, 1825. He was dismissed July 4th, 
1826. Rev. Homer Adams was employed for one year, commenc- 
ing in the fall of 1S27, and was succeeded by Rev. Asa Mahan, 
who was installed pastor, Nov. 11th, 1829, and w T as dismissed, 
March 4th, 1831. He was succeeded by Rev. Alfred E. Camp- 
bell as stated supply for one year, after whom Rev. Elijah Buck 
supplied nine months. The present pastor, Rev. John B. Richardson, 
commenced his labors, June 2d, 1833, and was installed pastor, 
Feb. 16th, 1834. During the period of Mr. Cushman's labors in 
the winter of 1824-25, a blessed season of refreshing from on high 
was enjoyed, as the result of which, thirty-eight persons were ad- 
mitted to the church. The years 1830, '31, and '32, seem to have 
been years of revival. Between ninety and one hundred members 
during those years were reported as added to the church by pro- 
fession. During the ministry of the present pastor, several seasons 
of refreshing have been enjoyed, adding numbers to the church. 

This church has ever supported its own minister without foreign 
aid. In 1799 the widely scattered inhabitants of Northfield united 
in building a large log-house, a little north of the present village of 
Pittsburgh, in which house for several years the business of the 
town was transacted, and public worship held upon the Sabbath, 
This house was thus occupied till 1816, when a frame building was 
erected, one mile south of the village, and dedicated as a place of 
religious worship. In 1826 a new and commodious house of wor- 
ship was erected in the village, by the Presbyterian congregation. 
It is a very neat, w T ell built, stone edifice, sixty feet in length, by 
forty in breadth. There is a Baptist, and also a Methodist church 



488 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



in the town, each of which is feeble. The Presbyterian congrega- 
tion, in a pecuniary point of view, are abundantly able to support 
the institutions of the gospel, though a large proportion of the popu- 
lation of the town have no connexion with any place of worship. 

Brighton. — The name of this church is found in the Statistical 
Report of the General Assembly for 1846, as connected with the 
Presbytery of Rochester, but the writer finds no mention of it in 
the Records of the Presbytery, nor has he any knowledge of its 
history. 

Rochester First Church. — The city of Rochester, we have re- 
marked in a preceding chapter, is of recent origin. The mill-lot, so 
called, lying on the west side of the river, and including one hun- 
dred acres, was given in 1789 to a Mr. Allen, for -building a mill 
for the accommodation of the settlers whc might move into the ad- 
jacent region. But the settlement being mostly made in other di- 
rections, the mill went to decay, and the lot was repeatedly sold. 
In 1802, Nathaniel Rochester, William Fitzhugh, and Charles Car- 
roll of Maryland, purchased the lot, and left it unsold- till 1812, 
when it was laid out into village lots, and offered for sale, and re- 
ceived the name of Rochester. The centre of the city on the east 
side of the river, was purchased in 1789 for twenty-five cents per 
acre. A log-house and saw-mill were erected on this tract in 1808, 
but it was not much improved till 1817, when it was laid out into 
village lots. In the north-west part of the city the first improve- 
ments began to be made in 1807, and in the north-east part in 1813. 
In 1813 there were three houses built and occupied, on the west 
side of the river. In 1817 the village was incorporated ; and in 1834 
a city charter was granted. In 1815 the population of the village 
was three hundred and thirty-one souls ; in 1845 it was twenty-five 
thousand two hundred and sixty-five. 

The first Presbyterian church, denominated the " First Presbyte- 
rian Church of Gates," was organized with sixteen members, by a 
committee of the Presbytery of Geneva, August 22d, 1815. At that 
period the part of the village on the west side of the river was in 
the town of Gates, that on the east was Brighton. The members 
of the church were dispersed over these two towns. In conse- 
quence of the wide separation of the members from each other, the 
Session, at a meeting held March 16th, 1816, passed the following 
vote : " Voted, that a meeting of the church shall be considered 
regularly warned, by a notice given publicly on the Sabbath, and 
when information shall have been sent to the settlements on the 
ridge in Gates, and in the east part of Brighton." At the organi- 
zation of the church, Oliver Gibbs, Daniel West, Warren Brown, 
and Henry Donnelly, were elected ruling elders. In 1825, the 
church numbered one hundred and eighty-eight members ; in 1837, 



PRESBYTERY OF ROCHESTER. 



489 



four hundred and ninety-six. It was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Geneva, Jan. 16th, 1816, and from that was trans- 
ferred to the Presbyteries of Ontario and Rochester respectively, 
on the organization of those bodies. 

Rev. Comfort Williams was installed pastor of the church, Jan. 
17th, 1816. He continued in the pastorate till June 6th, 1821, 
when he was dismissed. He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph 
Penny, D.D., who was installed pastor, April 3d, 1822, and was m 
dismissed, April 16th, 1833. Rev. Tryon Edwards was the next 
pastor. He was ordained and installed, July 22d, 1834, and dis- 
missed, July 26th, 1844. His successor was Rev. Malcom N. 
M'Laren, who was installed into the pastorate, August 27th, 1845, 
and but a short time since resigned his charge. This church has been 
blessed with great and powerful revivals, some mention of which 
has been made in a previous part of this work. At the close of 
the year 1838, the church had, since its organization, received, on 
profession of faith in Christ, four hundred and twenty-three mem- 
bers. The years 1830 and ? 31 were the most distinguished. 
During the former, ninety-one, and during the latter, eighty-one 
members were received on profession. This church has furnished 
a number of missionaries and assistant missionaries for India, Sy- 
ria, and the Sandwich Islands. Rev. Ferdinand D. W. Ward, 
Rev. Henry Cherry, Mrs. Maria W. Smith (wife of Rev. Eli 
Smith), Rev. Jonathan Green, Miss Delia Stone (since Mrs. Bishop). 
Mr. Henry A. De Forest and Mrs. Catherine S. De Forest, and 
Mr. Timothy D. Hunt, were members of this church. 

This church may be considered the nucleus from which the 
other Presbyterian churches in the city have proceeded. At its or- 
ganization it worshipped in a school-house. This was soon ex- 
changed for a temporary edifice prepared in a comfortable manner. 
Its present house of worship is a massive stone building. 

Rochester Brick Church. — This church was organized in Nov. 

1825, with twenty-five members taken from the first church. It 
was for some years known as the second Presbyterian church, but 
in 1834 took the name of the Brick Church. It was received under 
the care of the Presbytery of Rochester, Feb. 7th, 1826. It has 
been, through the grace of God, a very flourishing church. In 

1826, it reported thirty-five members ; in 1831, two hundred and 
twenty; in 1834, six hundred and six; and in 1837, five hundred 
and sixty-eight. This is the last report which the writer has seen. 
Its first pastor, Rev. William James, was installed, July 2d, 1826, 
and received his dismission Oct. 19th, 1830. He was succeeded 
by Rev. William Wisner, D.D., who was installed pastor, July 28th, 
1831, and was dismissed, Oct. 14th, 1835. The church then re- 
mained without a pastor between two and three years, and in the 
issue obtained Rev. George Beecher. who was installed. June 28th, 



490 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



1838, and resigned his charge, Oct. 6th, 1840. Rev. James B. 
Shaw followed in the pastorale, and was installed by a committee 
of the Presbytery in the spring of 1841. This church has been 
peculiarly distinguished for the number of members received by 
profession, indicating the presence of the Holy Spirit in his con- 
verting operations. In 1831, one hundred were reported as added 
to the church by profession ; in 1832, two hundred and eight; in 
1834, two hundred ; in other instances, from fifty-five to seventy- 
seven. 

The church was gathered, and for a season worshipped in the 
temporary building previously occupied by the first Presbyterian 
church. But in 1826, they erected an elegant edifice of brick, 
located on the corner of Fitzhugh and Ann streets. The building 
is fifty feet in breadth, and seventy deep. 

Rochester Third Presbyterian Church. — This church was or- 
ganized with twenty-two members, Feb. 28th, 1827. Its organiza- 
tion was the result of the preaching and labors of Rev. Joel Parker, 
D.D., then a licensed preacher merely. It was deemed desirable 
that a Presbyterian church should be organized on the eastern side 
of the river, within the limits of the city. To accomplish this ob- 
ject Mr. Parker was employed to preach in that location. He 
commenced his labors in December, 1826, and in February follow- 
ing, as above stated, the church was organized, and in June fol- 
lowing was recognised by the Presbytery of Rochester, as under 
their care. The church, in 1828, reported one hundred and fifty 
members ; in 1832, four hundred and two; but in 1837, only two 
hundred and forty. This is the last report which has fallen under 
the eye of the writer. At the time of its recognition by the Pres- 
bytery, Mr. Parker was ordained and installed as its pastor. He 
was dismissed from his charge, June 17th, 1830. Rev. Luke Lyons 
succeeded him in the pastorate, and was installed, July 27th, 1831, 
but was dismissed, Feb. 21st, 1832, having sustained the relation 
less than seven months. Rev. William C. Wisner was the next 
pastor. He was ordained and installed, Oct. 24th, 1832, and was 
dismissed, June 25th, 1833. It was almost two years before 
another pastor was designated. In November, 1834, Rev. William 
Mack, then a licentiate, commenced preaching to the congregation, 
and was ordained and installed pastor, Feb. 4th, 1835. This rela- 
tion he sustained till July 22d, 1829, when he w T as dismissed. 
Rev. Albert G. Hall was installed pastor, Nov. 10th, 1840, and still 
continues to sustain the pastoral relation. In the 'interval between 
the dismission of Dr. Parker and the coming of Mr. Lyons, 
the pulpit was supplied, a part of the time, by Rev. Charles G. 
Finney. 

This church has been blessed with revivals. Under the labors 
of Dr. Parker it increased to the number of one hundred and nine- 



PRESBYTERY OF ROCHESTER. 



491 



ty-eight members, a very considerable number of whom were 
received as new converts. In 1831, one hundred and fifty-eight 
were reported as having been received within the preceding year 
on their profession of faith. In other years considerable numbers 
are reported. During the ministry of Dr. Parker, a house of wor- 
ship was erected. In consequence of debts contracted by the con- 
gregation this house was sold about the time of Mr. Wisner's dis- 
mission, and the congregation were constrained to meet for public 
worship in such places as could be obtained, till at length a room 
in the Rochester Seminary was obtained till they could erect an 
appropriate building. Their present edifice was constructed in 
1835-6. It is built of stone, in length seventy feet, in breadth 
forty-eight. 

Rochester Free Presbyterian Church. — This church was orga- 
nized April 25th, 1832, by the Presbytery of Rochester. It was 
composed of forty-five members taken from the third, and one 
from the second Presbyterian church. The next year it is reported 
as consisting of two hundred and thirty-seven members, and in 
1836, of four hundred and twenty-five. These numbers are taken 
from the statistical tables appended to the minutes of the Genera! 
Assembly. Another account before the writer states the number 
of members in 1836 at two hundred and fifty. Rev. Luke Lyons 
was installed pastor of this church in the spring of 1833, and was 
dismissed, Sept. 14th, 1836. In June, 1838, the church, by an act 
of the Presbytery, was dissolved. Its dissolution is supposed by 
the writer to be owing to local circumstances. 

Rochester Washington Street Church. — This church was ori- 
ginally denominated the Bethel Church of Rochester. It was 
reported by a committee of the Presbytery of Rochester as orga- 
nized Feb. 7th, 1837. It then consisted of fifty members. In 1846, 
according to the statistical table appended to the Minutes of the 
General Assembly, it consisted of four hundred and twenty-five 
members. Oct. 19th, 1837, Rev. G. S. Boardman was installed 
pastor of the church, which station he held till June 28th, 1842, 
when his pastoral relation to the church was dissolved. In 1843, 
the church by permission withdrew from its connexion with the 
Presbytery, but, on its application, was received again in 1844. 
Rev. Milo J. Hickok was installed pastor of the church, Feb. 25th, 
1845, and is the present pastor. This church, in common with 
others in the city of Rochester, has been blessed with the effusions 
of the Holy Spirit in abundant measure. This church has a 
spacious house of worship built of stone, and located on Washing- 
ton street, between Buffalo street and the canal. 

North Rochester. — This church was organized in 1838, and re- 



492 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



ceived under the care of the Presbytery of Rochester, June 20th 
of that year. The same year it commenced the building of a house 
of worship, and completed it the next year. Of what number of 
members it has been composed at any period of its existence, is not 
known to the writer. Rev. Richard De Forest commenced labor- 
ing in this location under the patronage of the American Home 
Missionary Society, Jan. 1st, 1837. He seems to have continued 
three or four years, and was succeeded by Rev. D. K. Gaily, who 
probably continued one year. Mr. De Forest was again com- 
missioned by the Society to labor on this field in June, 1841. How 
long he continued, and what has been the subsequent history of the 
church, are circumstances unknown to the writer. This church 
appears to be the only one in the city of Rochester that has received 
aid from the American Home Missionary Society. 

Besides th.3 Presbyterian churches connected with the Presby- 
tery of Rochester, there is one Presbyterian church (Old School), 
one Reformed Presbyterian, one Congregationalism, one Evangeli- 
cal Lutheran, two Baptist, two Methodist, two Episcopal, one 
Christian, two Friends' meeting-houses, one for Universalists, and 
two for Roman Catholics. 

Parma and Greece. — The location of this church is on the Ridge 
road, and on the dividing line between the towns of Parma and 
Greece, this line passing through the centre of the house of worship. 
The church, consisting of twenty-one members, seven only of 
whom were males, was organized, Dec. 2d, 1819, by Rev. Messrs. 
Solomon Allen, Ebenezer Everett, and John F. Bliss, acting as a 
committee of the Presbytery of Rochester. The church was soon 
after taken under the care of the Presbytery on the accommodating 
plan. In 1828 the church numbered eighty-three members, which 
is about its present number. Previous to the installation of a pas- 
tor, the church was supplied statedly or occasionally for different 
periods, by Rev. Solomon Allen, Rev.. Alanson Darwin, Rev. John 
F. Bliss, and Rev. Philips Payson. Rev. Stephen V. R. Barnes 
commenced ministering to the church in September, 1823. He 
was installed pastor, July 5th, 1825, and dismissed from his pastoral 
charge, July 5th, 1826. After the dismission of Mr. Barnes, a 
number of ministers in succession were employed as stated supplies. 
Rev. Rudolphus Landfear, three months ; Rev. Ralph Clapp, one 
year ; Rev. Chauncey Cook, two years ; Rev. Stephen Williams, 
six months ; and Rev. R. Montgomery Davis, six months. Rev. 
Ralph Clapp commenced labor a second time, January, 1832, was 
installed pastor by the Genesee Consociation, Jan 14th, 1835, and 
was dismissed by the Presbytery of Rochester, Sept. 3d, 1844. 
At the same time he withdrew from the Presbytery and connected 
himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. Charles Kit- 
tredge, the present pastor, commenced laboring in the congregation 



PRESBYTERY OF ROCHESTER. 



493 



in September, 1844, and was installed pastor, July 8th, 1845. In 
the autumn of 1826, a revival, under the preaching of Mr. Land- 
fear, was enjoyed, as the result of which thirty-five members were 
added to the church by profession. In 1831, seventy-seven were 
thus added ; in 1834, ten ; in 1836, twenty-seven ; in 1842, twelve ; 
arid in 1843, thirteen. In several of the seasons last mentioned, a 
protracted meeting was held, and an evangelist employed to con- 
duct it. The writer's correspondent observes, that the character 
and results of these meetings were probably much the same as in 
other churches in the region. 

In September, 1830, this church, on account of Congregational 
preferences, took a dismission from the Presbytery, and united with 
the Genesee Consociation. This body having become tinctured 
arid divided by the theology maintained at Oberlin, the church, in 
1842, voted to " dissolve all connexion with the Genesee Consocia- 
tion," and to " adopt the Westminster Confession of Faith as con 
tained in the Assembly's Shorter Catechism, as their symbol of 
faith." Feb. 7th, 1844, the church was again received under the 
care of the Presbytery of Rochester, and in February, 1846, adopted 
in full the Presbyterian form of church government and elected 
ruling elders. But the church was far from being in a state cf 
harmony- The leaven of Oberlinism was working in the bodv ? 
and strong Congregational preferences existed in some minds. 
About forty of the members withdrew from their brethren, and set 
up an independent meeting, and have since been recognised as an 
independent Congregational church. The majority who remain 
are harmonions in their views of doctrine and practice, and are 
determined to maintain the. institutions of Christ's house. 

This church has received aid from the American Home Mission- 
ary Society, one or two years in the support of Mr. Clapp. Their 
church edifice was erected in 1824, and finished, at an expense of 
$2750, and dedicated, July 6th, 1825. Since the division of the 
church, the dissenting party have claimed to be the church, and by 
stealth taken possession of the house, and at the last information 
retained possession by force. The subject was before a legal tri- 
bunal for adjudication, but was not yet decided. 

Parma. — The settlement of this town, and of the country gene- 
rally on the Ridge road, commenced within the present century. 
In 1810, it was observed that the settlement of the town of Parma 
was comparatively new, and the number of inhabitants small. 
The church was organized in 1829, and was taken under the care 
of the Presbytery of Rochester, June 30th of that year. The 
number of members, according to the latest report within the writ- 
er's knowledge, was between seventy and eighty. As stated sup- 
plies, Rev. Messrs. Silas Pratt, Chandler Bates, Beaufort Ladd, 
William P. Kendrick, and Daniel Johnson, have severally officiated 



494 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



at different periods, since 1830. What ministerial aid the church 
enjoyed previous to this is not known to the writer. In the support 
of all the above mentioned ministers, the church was aided by the 
American Home Missionary Society. Under the labors of Mr. 
Pratt a season of revival was enjoyed, and forty-five individuals 
were reported as hopeful converts. Under Mr. Kendrick's minis- 
try in 1841, sixteen were reported as hopefully converted. In 1843, 
the congregation were engaged in building a house of worship. 
This church is sometimes denominated the church of Parma Centre. 

Parma Corners. — This church was reported as organized, and 
taken under the care of the Presbytery of Rochester, Sept. 21st, 
1830. At the time of its organization, Rev. Chauncey Cook, under 
the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, was 
laboring in the region. The new formed church did not flourish, 
and in less than a year became extinct, its members receiving let- 
ters from the Presbytery to unite with other churches in the vicinity. 

Clarkson. — The settlement of this town commenced in 1803, by 
Mr. Moody Freeman from Connecticut. A Congregational church 
consisting of sixteen members, of whom four only were males, was 
organized by an ecclesiastical council, Sept. 4th, 1816. This town 
at that period was included in the town of Murray, and the church 
was styled the First Congregational Church of Murray; but for 
many years past it has been known as the church of Clarkson, as 
its place of meeting is in the village of that name situated on the 
Ridge road, distant from the village of Brockport one mile and a 
half. In 1826, the church contained twenty-seven members ; in 
1824, one hundred and seventy-six, and in 1846, one hundred and 
fifty-two. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of 
Ontario, Feb. 10th, 1819, and was transmitted to the care of the 
Presbytery of Rochester on its organization. Rev. John F. Bliss 
was installed its pastor, Feb. 11th, 1819. He was dismissed, Feb. 
4h, 1823. Mr. Bliss, during his pastorate, had another church 
under his care, and divided his ministrations equally between the 
two. Rev. William James succeeded him in 1825 as stated supply, 
but continued only a short time. Rev. Stephen V. R. Barnes took 
the charge of the church as stated supply in 1826, and continued 
two years. He was succeeded in 1828 by Rev. Benjamin I. Lane, 
who continued two years. On the fifth day of February, 1831, 
Rev. Charles E. Furman was installed as pastor, and continued to 
sustain the relation till June 29th, 1836, when he was dismissed. 
He was followed by Rev. Norris Bull, D.D., who was installed as 
pastor of the church, June 27th, 1837. He has since deceased. 

Under, the ministry of Mr. Lane a revival which added more 
than twenty members to the church was enjoyed. Also, under 
the ministry of Mr. Furman outpourings of the Spirit were granted, 



PRESBYTERY OF ROCHESTER. 



495 



and more than one hundred members were added to the church on 
profession. And again under the ministry of Dr. Bull the work of 
the Lord was revived, and a goodly number added to the church. 
They have a commodious house of worship, which was erected in 
1826. They were aided by the American Home Missionary Society 
two years in the support of Mr. Lane. The members of this 
church live intermixed with other denominations, Methodists, Bap- 
tists, and Free-will Baptists. The Methodists are the most nume- 
rous body, the Congregationalists next, and the Baptists the fewest. 
The mass of the population attend worship with some denomination. 

Murray. — A church in this town, denominated the church of 
Sandy Creek, was received under the care of the Presbytery of 
Rochester, Sept. 11th, 1821. The writer supposes that it was 
small in number, and leeble in means to support the institutions of 
religion. Its name is found on the list of churches connected with 
the Presbytery of Rochester, in the Statistical Tables appended to 
the Minutes of the General Assembly, from the year 1826 to 1830 
inclusive. No number of members in any case is given, and the 
church is uniformly stated to be vacant. In the town of Clarendon 
a church was organized, and received under the care of the Presby- 
tery of Rochester, Feb. 4th, 1823, which in 1826 was reported as 
consisting of nine members. In the Statistical Tables it is uni- 
formly reported as vacant, and no report of the number of mem- 
bers is found except in the instance stated before. These two 
churches by an act of the Presbytery were united, July 13th, 1831, 
to be known as the church of Murray. Of the further history of 
this church the writer is not informed. 

Holley. — This village is located on the Erie canal, in the town of 
Murray, and like most other villages similarly situated, has its origin 
from the construction of the canal. At what period the Presbyte- 
rian Church was organized, is not known to the writer. Its name 
is first found in the Statistical Tables in the Minutes of the General 
Assembly for 1833. It then included 112 members, and in 1834, 
181. In 1827, Rev. Stephen Williams labored here for a short 
time under the patronage of the American Home Missionary 
Society. The next year, Rev. Eber Child was employed under 
the same patronage, and seems to have continued one year. In 
1833, Rev. Hiland Hulbert was reported as stated supply, and the 
year following, Rev. Robert H. Conklin. In 1837, Rev. Oliver H. 
Powell was reported as stated supply. On the 14th day of Novem- 
ber, 1843, Rev. Jonathan Copeland was ordained and installed 
pastor of the church, and still sustains this relation. In 1834, 
seventy- one members were reported as having been added to the 
church by profession the preceding year. The church has an 
appropriate house of worship. 



496 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Brockport. — This is a beautiful village on the Erie canal, in the 
town of Sweden. It was first settled by Messrs. Hopkins and 
Harmon, whose title was transferred to Messrs. Brockway and 
Seymour, about the year 1820, and was soon after laid out into 
village lots, and peopled by immigrants from different parts of the 
State of New York and New England. Public worship was first 
set up by the Methodist denomination about the year 1826. A 
Congregational Church consisting of six members, was organized 
by Rev. Avelyn Sedgwick and Rev. Josiah Pierson, which was 
taken under the care of the Presbytery of Rochester, March 19th, 
1828. In June, 1830, on account of the difficulty of maintaining 
discipline, a standing committee was elected in accordance with 
the Plan of Union of 1801, and in October, 1834, the Presbyterian 
form of government in full was adopted, and a session formed. In 
1830, the church reported fifty members ; in 1834, 200; in 1837, 
219; and in 1846, it numbered 123. Rev. Joseph Myers was 
installed pastor of the church, January 13th, 1830, he having for 
some time previously officiated as stated supply. He was dis- 
missed, June 27th, 1832, and was succeeded by Rev. Joel Byington 
as stated supply for one year. Rev. Eli S. Hunter, D.D., com- 
menced laboring with the church in May, 1834, and was installed 
as pastor, December 23d of that year. The pastoral relation be- 
tween him and the church was dissolved, June 28th, 1837. He 
was succeeded by Mr. Pliny Twitchell, a licentiate, for one year 
as stated supply, after which period Rev. Benjamin B. Stockton 
was called to the pastorate, and installed August 30th, 1838. He 
continued to minister to the church about five years, and was dis- 
missed July 11th, 1843. Soon after this event Rev. Hugh Mair, 
D.D., was employed as a stated supply, and at the writer's last 
information, continued in that station. 

From March, 1830, to March, 1831, seventeen members were re- 
ceived by the church, on a profession of faith. These were the 
fruits of a precious season of revival enjoyed during the latter part 
of that period, under the ordinary means of grace. Soon after this 
period, a somewhat different course of measures was pursued, at- 
tended, perhaps, by a somewhat different course of instruction. 
Under the operation of this course, frequent additions were made 
to the church by profession. Twenty-seven were reported as thus 
added in 1832, and thirty in 1833. On the twenty-third day of 
April, 1833, a protracted meeting was commenced, and continued 
twenty-eight days, under the direction of Rev. Jedidiah Burchard. 
During this period ninety-nine members were received into the 
church, on their profession of faith in Christ. Of these and others 
previously received as new converts, there is every reason to be- 
lieve that a goodly number of them were indeed born again, but 
with respect to others, to say the least, the case is doubtful, and the 
hasty admission of such numbers was attended with disastrous re- 



PRESBYTERY OF ROCHESTER. 



497 



suits. About twenty have been excommunicated or suspended for 
unchristian conduct, and a vastly larger number have left the church 
without regular dismission, and are gone to distant parts of the 
country. During the ministry of Mr. Stockton, after the church 
had elected a session of elders, a case of discipline occurred with 
a man, who, for a considerable time, had neglected to act with the 
church, and who, when called before the Session, denied their juris- 
diction over him. Under these circumstances, the case was re- 
ferred to the church for counsel and advice, and resulted in an en- 
tire new organization of the church, making it to consist of ninety- 
eight members, since increased to one hundred and twenty-three. 
The church, at the period of the preceding annual report, had a 
list of two hundred and twenty-seven names of members nominally 
belonging to the church, leaving, after deducting the ninety-eight 
who united in the new organization, one hundred and twenty-nine. 
Of these, twenty were resident in the village of Brockport, or its 
vicinity, and style themselves the First Congregational Church of 
Brockport. The remainder were either under church censure, or 
had left the region without regular dismission. 

This church has received aid in the support of its pastor, the two 
first years of its existence, to the amount of $200, from the Assem- 
bly's Board of Missions, and the third year, $ 100 from the Ameri- 
can Home Missionary Society. They have a commodious house 
of worship, fifty feet in length, by forty in breadth, which was 
completed and dedicated to the service of Almighty God, in June, 
1831. A house of worship was erected by the Methodists in 1828, 
and another by the Baptists, in 1829. The Free- Will Baptists and 
the Episcopalians have also houses of worship. The Presbyterians, 
the Methodists, and the Baptists, are about equal as to strength. The 
other denominations are more feeble. It is estimated that not more 
than two-thirds of the population of the village and its vicinity are 
regular attendants on the preaching of the gospel. 

Sweden. — This church, the writer supposes, is located in the 
southern part of the town of Sweden, as that of Brockport occu- 
pies the northern. The church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Ontario, Feb. 10th, 1819, and was transferred to the 
Presbytery of Rochester, on the organization of that body. In 
1826, it numbered seventy- seven members. It varied but little 
from this number till 1833, when it reported ninety-nine members. 
In 1836 the number was one hundred and fifteen, and the following 
year, ninety-seven. This is the last number the author finds on 
record. The church has never had a regular settled pastor, but 
has generally been furnished with a stated supply. Rev. David 
Page seems to have officiated in this capacity several years ; Rev. 
Josiah Pierson two years ; Rev. Samuel Marsh for a similar period, 
and Rev. Daniel Johnson several years. The church was assisted 

32 



498 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



by the American Home Missionary Society, in the support of Mr. 
Page. What is the present state of the church is not known to the 
writer. 

Ogden. — This town was originally the southern part of the town 
of Parma. The first person who purchased and located in the 
town was George Willey, who, in September, 1845, still remained 
an inhabitant. His settlement in the town was in 1803. Public 
worship commenced as early as the autumn of 1804. A church 
was organized, Nov. 4th, 1811, a record of which was made in the 
following words : — " On this day is a church of Christ organized of 
the Congregational order, in the town of Parma, by Rev. Reuben 
Parmele, of the following members, viz. — Samuel Davis, Daniel 
Arnold, James Ferrington, Josiah Mather, Jabez Busley, Ben- 
jamin Freeman, Abigail Busley, Phebe Finch, Lydia Mitchell, and 
Betsy Nichols." The church was designated the Congregational 
church of Parma for several years. On the division of the town it 
assumed the name of the church of Ogden. In 1825, it contained 
one hundred and two members ; in 1836, two hundred and forty- 
five ; and in 1845, about two hundred and fifty. It was received on 
the accommodating plan, under the care of the Presbytery of 
Geneva, August 9th, 1815, and was transferred to the Presbyteries 
of Ontario and Rochester, at the formation of those bodies. It was 
dismissed on request from the Presbytery of Rochester, Feb. 7th, 
1826, and, as the writer believes, became connected with the Gene- 
see Consociation. In 1835, it adopted the Presbyterian mode of 
church government, and was again received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Rochester. The church of Parma and Greece, and 
the church of Adam's Basin, were formed of members from this 
church. 

This church enjoyed the labors of several ministers previous to 
the settlement of a pastor, among whom was Rev. Henry Smith, 
whose labors were blessed to the conversion of a number of souls. 
The first settled pastor was Rev. Ebenezer Everett, who was 
installed by the Presbytery of Ontario, Feb. 10th, 1819. He was 
dismissed, April 17th, 1822. The next pastor was Rev. Avelyn 
Sedgwick, who was ordained and installed, Nov. 17th, 1824. He 
continued in the pastoral office till July, 1833, when he was dismissed 
from his charge, and was succeeded by Rev. John H. Carle, who 
labored as a stated supply with the church one year. Rev. Con- 
way P. Wing was installed pastor of the church, March 25th, 
1835, and was dismissed, Nov. 5th, 1838. Soon after the dismission 
of Mr. Wing, Rev. Avelyn Sedgwick returned to the church, 
commenced ministerial labor, and was installed as pastor, Feb. 11th, 
1840. His pastoral relation to the church was dissolved by the 
Presbytery, Sept. 7th, 1842, but whether his ministerial labors were 
suspended for a season is not known to the writer. He was soon 



PRESBYTERY OF ROCHESTER. 



499 



afterwards officiating as stated supply, and at the last information 
still continued in that capacity. During the first period of Mr. 
Sedgwick's ministry two extensive revivals were enjoyed ; one, 
in 1827, as the result of which sixty members were added to the 
church ; the other in 1831, in which about one hundred and thirty 
were brought into the church. Under the ministry of Mr. Wing 
two or three seasons of refreshing were enjoyed, adding a consider- 
able number of members to the church. Similar seasons have 
been experienced during Mr. Sedgwick's last period of ministerial 
labor. 

This church has an appropriate house of worship, erected in 
1822, and dedicated the year following, Rev. Alvan Hyde, D.D. 
of Lee (Mass.), officiating on the occasion. It is fifty feet in length 
and forty in breadth. The average number of the congregation 
attending worship upon the Sabbath, is from three to four hundred. 
The church, soon after its organization, received aid in supporting 
the ministry to the amount of $50 a year for two or three years, 
from the Female Domestic Missionary Society of Oneida County. 
Besides the Presbyterian churches in the town of Ogden, there are 
a close communion Baptist, a Free Will Baptist, an Episcopal Metho- 
dist, and a Wesleyan Methodist church. The three former have 
appropriate houses of worship. The Baptist churches number 
over a hundred members each ; the Methodist Societies are smaller. 

Adams' Basin. — This is a small village situated on the Erie 
canal in the town of Ogden. A Presbyterian church, by an act of 
the Presbytery of Rochester, was organized in this village, April 
19th, 1837. It consisted of twenty-one members taken from the 
church of Ogden. The present number of members is not known 
to the writer. Rev. Daniel Johnson officiated as stated supply the 
latter part of the year 1841, and the former part of the succeeding 
year. He was succeeded in May, 1842, by Rev. Richard Dunning, 
who was installed pastor of the church, April 29th, 1845, and still 
sustains the relation. The church erected a house of worship, 
which was completed in 1842. They have since built a parsonage. 
They have been aided from year to year by the American Home 
Missionary Society. 

Gates. — The town of Gates formerly included that part of the 
city of Rochester which lies on the west side of the Genesee river, 
and the First Presbyterian Church of Rochester was originally 
denominated the Church of Gates. The present Presbyterian 
church of Gates was reported to the Presbytery of Rochester as 
organized, June 28th, 1831. In 1833, it consisted of nine members. 
The next year it had increased to eighteen, and in 1837, to thirty-eight. 
Its present number is not known to the writer. As stated supplies 
under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, 



500 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Rev. Messrs. Silas Pratt, Alvan Ingersoll, David K. Gaily, and 
James Ballentine, have ministered to this church. The three 
former labored for one or two years each. Mr. Ballentine com- 
menced ministerial labor in May, 1843, was installed pastor, Sept. 
23d, 1845, and still continues. Mr. Gaily reported a revival as 
having been enjoyed in 1838. Mr. Ballentine made a similar 
report in 1843, as the result of which the number of members in 
the church was doubled within a year. This church has an appro- 
priate house of worship erected in 1844. It has ceased to ask the 
further aid of the Missionary Society. 

Henrietta. — This is a Congregational Church which was organ- 
ized many years since. It was taken under the care of the Presby- 
tery of Rochester, June 25th, 1833, and on the eleventh day of 
July ensuing, Rev. Roswell G. Murray was installed as pastor. 
He continued in this relation till July 1st, 1835, when he was 
dismissed. The church at the same time, on its request, was 
dismissed to join the Genesee Consociation. In 1834, the church 
numbered one hundred and fourteen members. It has an appropri- 
ate house of worship. Rev. George P. King, under the patronage 
of the American Home Missionary Society, officiated as stated 
supply two years from August, 1826, and Rev. John Thalhimer, 
under the same patronage, two years from April, 1831. The 
remaining history of the church is not known to the writer. 

Chili. — The town of Chili was formerly a part of the town of 
Riga. At what period a church was organized, is not known to 
the writer. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of 
Ontario, Feb. 10th, 1819, and was then known as the church of 
East Riga. After the division of the town it was denominated the 
church of Chili. It was transferred to the Presbytery of Rochester 
on the organization of that body. In 1825, it reported ninety-four 
members ; in 1832, one hundred and twenty- five ; and in 1834, one 
hundred and five. This is the last report which the writer has 
seen. Rev. Chauncey Cook was installed pastor of the church, 
Dec. 27th, 1820, and continued in the pastorate till Feb. 7th, 1828, 
when the relation was dissolved. He was succeeded in the pastoral 
office by Rev. Silas Pratt, who was installed pastor of the church, 
Nov. 3d, 1829, and was dismissed, Nov. 3d, 1831. Since that 
period, the church has had no regularly installed pastor, but has 
generally been furnished with a stated supply. Rev. Lemuel 
Brooks was employed in this capacity for a season ; but what other 
ministers have officiated, is not known to the writer. In 1820, a 
revival was reported as having been enjoyed, with about forty 
hopeful conversions attending it. In 1828, sixteen were reported 
as'having united with the church by profession, and in 1832, thirty- 
three, indicating that the preceding years had been years of revival. 



PRESBYTERY OF ROCHESTER. 



501 



The church, it is believed, has always supported its own minister 
without foreign aid. 

Churchville. — This is a small village in the town of Riga on the 
line of the Tonawanda railroad. At what time the Presbyterian 
church was organized is not known to the writer. Its name is first 
found in the Statistical Tables of the Minutes of the General As- 
sembly, in the list of churches connected with the Presbytery of 
Rochester, 1833. It then consisted of fifty-seven members. In 
1836, it numbered seventy- six, but the next year was reduced to 
sixty-seven. In 1833, Rev. Worthington Wright was officiating as 
stated supply. Rev. Lemuel Brooks succeeded him for a season. 
Rev. Royal West, under the patronage of the American Home 
Missionary Society, labored one year with the church from Octo- 
ber, 1842. Under the same patronage, Rev. Charles Kenmore 
followed him for six months. In November, 1846, Rev. E. W. 
Kellogg received a missionary appointment to labor in this church 
for one year. A revival in 1834 and '35 made a considerable addi- 
tion to the church. 

Riga. — The settlement of this town commenced in March, 1806. 
A Congregational church was organized as early as 1809 or '10, 
which became connected with the Ontario Association May 27th, 
1812. In this connexion it continued till the dissolution of the As- 
sociation. It then remained without any ecclesiastical connexion for 
several years. It was received under the care of the Presbytery 
of Ontario, on the accommodation plan, June 17th, 1817, and was 
transferred to the Presbytery of Rochester on the organization 
of that body. It was dismissed to unite with the Genesee Conso- 
ciation, on its request, Oct. 9th, 1838. The church at its organiza- 
tion, like most other churches in the wilderness, was composed of 
a small number of members. In 1825 it had increased to the num- 
ber of one hundred and twenty-three. In 1832 it numbered one 
hundred and fifty members ; and in 1836, one hundred and thirty- 
five. This is the last account which the writer has respecting it. 
Rev. Allen Hollister was the first pastor. He was ordained and 
installed by an ecclesiastical council, perhaps two or three years 
after the organization of the church, and continued pastor till his 
death, or until sickness rendered it impossible for him to perform 
any ministerial service. Rev. Alanson Darwin was his successor. 
He, too, was ordained and installed by an ecclesiastical council. 
The date is not known to the writer. He was dismissed by the 
Presbytery of Rochester, May 4th, 1825. Rev. George Coan was 
installed pastor of the church Oct. 10th, 1826, and was dismissed 
Sept. 17th, 1828. He was succeeded by Rev. Ebenezer Mead, who 
was ordained and installed pastor, July 14th, 1829, and continued 



502 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



till July 11th, 1833. Who have been pastors or stated supplies 
since that period is not known to the writer. 

This church has been blessed with the reviving influences of the 
Divine Spirit from an early period. In 1818 there was a revival 
which added a considerable number of members to the church. 
During the ministry of Mr. Mead, in three years eighty-eight mem- 
bers were added to the church by profession, as the fruits of a re- 
vival. In 1836 forty-nine members by profession were reported as 
having been added the preceding year, indicating that the commu- 
nity had been visited with the converting influences of the Holy 
Spirit. This church has an appropriate house of worship, and has 
always supported its own minister without foreign aid. 

North Bergen. — This church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Rochester, June 24th, 1828. It is supposed that it 
had then been recently formed. It was then denominated the 
church of Byron, Bergen, and Clarendon, and, as the author sup- 
poses, was constituted of individuals from each of these towns. It 
afterwards was called the church of Lyme, and latterly North 
Bergen. In 1831 it contained forty-two members. This is the 
highest number found in the Statistical Tables. Rev. Ralph Clapp 
was ordained and installed pastor of this church, Feb. 25th, 1829, 
and was dismissed Feb. 22d, 1832. For a period of about ten years 
after Mr. Clapp's dismission, the church was sometimes supplied, 
and sometimes vacant. Rev. Bela Fancher was installed pastor 
of the church, July 19th, 1842, and, at the last information of the 
writer, retained his station. In 1842 this church enjoyed a revival, 
but how extensive is not known to the writer. They were aided 
by the American Home Missionary Society two years, in the sup- 
port of Mr. Clapp. 

Bergen. — The settlement of this town commenced as early as 
1806 or 1807. Among the early settlers were several families from 
Guilford, in the State of Connecticut, who were professors of reli- 
gion, and immediately on their arrival set up public worship on the 
Sabbath. In 1808 a church of the Congregational order was or- 
ganized, which became connected with the Ontario Association, 
May 27th, 1812, and continued in that connexion till the dissolution 
of the Association. It was received under the care of the Presby- 
tery of Rochester on the formation of that body. In 1825 the 
church numbered eighty-two members. This was about the num- 
ber from year to year till 1830, at which period only forty-one 
were reported. In 1832 one hundred and forty-seven were re- 
ported, and the next year one hundred and sixty-two. In 1836 the 
number was two hundred and eleven, and the next year one hun- 
dred and eighty-six. This is the last report which has come to the 



PRESBYTERY OF ROCHESTER. 503 

knowledge of the writer. For several years the church received 
occasional assistance from travelling missionaries, and at times was 
supplied for a season by some minister or licentiate whose services 
could be obtained. In the year 1820, Rev. Herman Halsey was 
installed pastor by an ecclesiastical council. This mode of induc- 
tion was disproved by the Presbytery, Mr. Halsey and the church 
being at the time under its care. Mr. Halsey continued to hold 
the pastoral office till Feb. 5th, 1831, when he was dismissed by 
the Presbytery. After this period Rev. Josiah Pierson seems to 
have officiated as stated supply for a season. Rev. Jairus Wilcox 
was installed pastor, Sept. 8th, 1835. He continued only one year, 
and was dismissed Sept. 14th, 1836. The church was then with- 
out a pastor about ten years, and what supplies were employed is 
not known to the writer. Rev. William P. Jackson was installed 
pastor, June 30th, 1846, and still continues in that relation. This 
church has been repeatedly visited with the outpourings of the Holy 
Spirit. In 1819 there was a season of refreshing enjoyed. In 1832 
one hundred were reported as added to the church by profession ; 
in 1836, thirty-nine ; and in 1837, thirty-seven, marking those years 
as peculiarly years of the right-hand of the Most High. This church 
has an appropriate house of worship, and has ever supported its 
own ministers without foreign aid. 

About the year 1829, a division occurred in the church. The 
author believes that the cause of division was the location for a 
house of worship. Nearly one half of the members of the church 
seceded, and formed a separate Congregational church, and took 
the name of the Congregational Church of Bergen and Leroy. 
With the subsequent history of this church the author is unacquainted. 
It is not connected with any Presbytery. 

Wheatland. — This town is situated on the Genesee river, which 
bounds it on the east. It is about nine miles in length from east 
to west, and about three in breadth from north to south. Near 
the eastern end of the town, on the Genesee Valley canal, stands 
the village of Scottsville, in which the church has its house of 
worship. We have stated in a preceding chapter, that Peter 
Shaffer, in 1788, settled where this village now stands. Other 
families of Germans, from Pennsylvania, came in about the year 
1796. These were soon followed by emigrants from England and 
Scotland, and a few from the eastern States. The first settlers 
were mostly of an irreligious class. The Sabbath was regarded 
as a day of business or pastime. An infidel club was formed at 
an early period, composed mainly of Englishmen and Scotchmen, 
to disseminate the principles of infidelity. This club had a circu- 
lating library, composed of the works of Hume, Voltaire, Volney, 
Paine, and similar authors. There was occasional preaching by 
ministers of the Baptist denomination as early as 1816. In 1821, 



534 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Rev. Chauncey Cook, of Chili, preached in the town one fourth 
of the time, and in March, 1822, a Congregational church, con- 
sisting of six male and five female members, was organized by a 
committee of the Presbytery of Rochester, consisting of Rev. 
Messrs. Cook, Penny, and Everett. This church was received, 
April 16th, 1822, under the care of the Presbytery, on the accom- 
modating plan. The original members were taken from the 
churches of Caledonia, Riga, and Chili. In 1832, the church 
adopted the Presbyterian form of Church government, and elected 
ruling elders. In 1826, the church consisted of twenty-four mem- 
bers ; in 1834, of one hundred and sixty-one ; and in October, 
1845, it numbered one hundred and fifteen. In the autumn of 
1821, Rev. John Mulligan commenced preaching as a stated sup- 
ply, at first a part of the time ; afterwards, the whole of the time. 
He preached in two or three neighborhoods, and continued his 
labors three years. Rev. William F. Curry followed him as stated 
supply about one year. Rev. Abiel Parmele was stated supply 
for two years from May, 1827. He was succeeded by Rev. Jacob 
Hart, who continued two years. Rev. Lewis Cheeseman com- 
menced laboring as a stated supply in May, 1831. He continued 
his labors, and was installed pastor of the church in 1824, and was 
dismissed from his pastoral charge, Oct. 25th, 1836. In May, 1837, 
Rev. Eli S. Hunter, D.D., commenced his labors with the church, 
and was installed pastor, Sept. 20th of the same year. He was 
dismissed, June 26th, 1839. From September, 1839, to December, 
1840, Rev. Selden Haynes supplied the congregation. Rev. 
Linus W. Billington commenced laboring with the congregation 
in the spring of 1841, and was installed pastor, July 20th of the 
same year. He still continues in that relation. 

During the period of Mr. Curry's ministration a measure of 
divine influence was felt, and some addition was made to the 
church. Under the ministry of Mr. Parmele a gradual and pre- 
cious work of grace was manifested, which added a number of 
valuable members to the church. A protracted meeting, under 
Mr. Cheeseman's ministry, was held, characterized, it is said, by 
some extreme measures, as the result of which more than a hun- 
dred members were received into the church. Shortly before 
Dr. Hunter's dismission, there was a precious revival, as the re- 
sult of which about thirty members were added to the church after 
his departure. In the spring of 1843, a season of special religious 
interest was enjoyed, as the result of which twenty-two members 
were added to the church. 

A house of worship was erected and finished in 1831, fifty-four 
feet in length and forty-two in breadth, and in its construction 
pleasant and convenient. In the support of Mr. Curry the church 
was aided by the American Home Missionary Society. 

In December, 1837, between forty and fifty members of the 



PRESBYTERY OF ROCHESTER. 



505 



church, on resolutions of adherence to the Old School General 
Assembly, seceded, and were organized as a church, denominated 
the church of Scottsville. This church is under the care of the 
Presbytery of Wyoming. In 1845, it consisted of about fifty 
members. Rev. Lewis Cheeseman was their minister four or five 
years, and after him, Rev. Edwin Bronson, two years. He was 
succeeded by Rev. Richard Kay. 

Besides the Presbyterian churches, there are in the village of 
Scottsville, a Methodist and a Baptist congregation, neither of them 
very large. There are also many Roman Catholics, who have a 
monthly service. One mile south of the village, are two Quaker 
meetings, one Orthodox, the other Hicksite. It is estimated that 
about one half of the church-going population attend with the 
New School Presbyterian church. The congregations upon the 
Sabbath range from two to three hundred attendants. 

Rush. — This church is first noticed on the Statistical Tables in 
the Minutes of the General Assembly for the year 1830, as con- 
nected with the Presbytery of Rochester. No mention is made of 
its reception on the records of the Presbytery. In 1831, it con- 
sisted of eleven members; in 1823, of twenty-three. This is the 
last report known to the writer. It appears that Rev. Messrs. 
Erie Prince, Abner Benedict, Chauncey Cook, and Conrad Ten 
Eyck, have been severally stated supplies to the church, under 
the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, at dif- 
ferent periods. 

West Mendon. — This church has its location at the village of 
Honeoye Falls, which is situated partly in the town of Mendon, 
and partly in the town of Lima. This location was formerly 
designated Norton's Mills, an appellation derived from Capt. Zebulon 
Norton, who at an early period purchased the location, and erect- 
ed mills at the Falls. Captain Norton was a member of the 
Methodist Church, and under his patronage regular preaching by 
the Methodist denomination was established at an early day. A 
Presbyterian church, under the auspices of the Rochester Presby- 
tery, was reported as organized, Jan. 28th, 1831. In 1832, it was 
reported as consisting of forty-six members, and the next year it 
reported fifty-seven. Rev. George G. Sill officiated as stated sup- 
ply one year from August, 1828. He was followed by Rev. Richard 
Dunning, and he by Rev. Jacob Hart, who probably continued one 
year each. Rev. Samuel J. M'Cullough was ordained and installed 
pastor of the church, Oct. 30th, 1839, and was dismissed, June 30th, 
1840. He was succeeded by Rev. Ephraim Strong, who was in- 
stalled, June 12th, 1841. The pastoral relation was dissolved, 
July 11th, 1843. In 1843 and '44, Rev. Thomas Riggs officiated 
as stated supply. In 1846, Rev. Obadiah C. Beardsley com- 



506 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



menced ministering to the congregation, and still continues to 
officiate. 

This church has an appropriate house of worship. There are 
also in the village, one Episcopal, one Methodist, and one Christian 
house of worship. 

Mendon. — The settlement of this town commenced at an early 
period, and preaching by the Baptists and Methodists was enjoyed 
in some considerable degree, and by Presbyterians occasionally ; 
but no church of the Presbyterian denomination was formed till 
about the year 1823, which was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Rochester, July 1st, 1823. In 1826, the church 
numbered twenty-one members ; in 1831. it had increased to eighty ; 
and in 1834, its number was one hundred and fifteen. In 1837, it 
had decreased to one hundred. Rev. George G. Sill officiated as 
stated supply under the patronage of the American Home Mis- 
sionary Society, in 1826. He seems to have continued one year. 
Rev. William Jones, under the same patronage, officiated one year, 
from March, 1828. Rev. Elisha D. Andrews was reported as 
stated supply, in 1831. Rev. John Thalhimer was installed pastor 
of this church, June 25th, 1833. He continued till Oct. 14th, 1835, 
when he was dismissed. Rev. Elijah D. Wells was installed pas- 
tor, Jan. 3d, 1837, but, on account of the failure of his health, was 
dismissed, Sept. 2d of the same year. In 1828, a revival was reported 
as having been enjoyed, which added forty-one members to the 
church. In 1831, twenty were reported as having been added the 
previous year by profession, and in 1834, twenty-five were report- 
ed as so added, indicating that those were years of revival. With 
the history of the church since Mr. Wells's dismission, the author is 
not acquainted. 

This church has an appropriate house of worship in the village 
of Mendon. The Baptist church, which is of a much earlier date 
than the Presbyterian, have also a house of worship in the village. 



507 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

Presbytery of Niagara :— Carlton, Yates, Somerset, Wilson, Porter, Lewiston, Cambria, 
Lock port First, Lockport Second, Royalton, Middleport, Medina, Knowlesville, 
Gaines, Albion, Barre Centre, Millville, Pendleton, Chalmers, Niagara Falls. 

THE PRESBYTERY OF NIAGARA 

Will next claim our attention. We begin with 

Carlton. — This church was organized in 1831 or 1832, consisting 
of sixteen members, and was received under the care of the Pres- 
bytery of Niagara, January 31st, 1832. It remained a feeble 
church, with no considerable increase till January 26th, 1836, when 
it was united with the church of Gaines. 

Yates. — This church is first brought to notice on the Minutes 
of the Presbytery of Niagara, June 24th, 1834. The next year it 
was reported as consisting of fifty-one members. In 1840, eighty 
were reported, and in 1846, eighty-one was the number. In 1834, 
Rev. David Page seems to have been stated supply. In 1836 and 
a part of 1837, Rev. Joel B. Potter, under the patronage of the 
American Home Missionary Society, officiated as stated supply. 
Rev. Richard Dunning succeeded him under the same patronage, 
and continued for a season. What other stated supplies the church 
has employed is not known to the writer. Mr. Dunning, in 1839, 
reported to the Missionary Society 100 hopeful conversions as 
having taken place. The writer does not find that any considerable 
number united with the church. In 1846, the church was reported 
as vacant. 

Somerset. — This church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Niagara, January 27th, 1824. The writer supposes 
that it was then a newly organized church. In 1825, it was re- 
ported as consisting of only ten members ; in 1830, of eleven ; in 
1840, of eighty-four ; and in 1846, of one hundred and twenty-four. 
Rev. Truman Baldwin officiated a year or two as stated supply under 
the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, com- 
mencing in July, 1837. Rev. Thomas Payne was installed pastor 
of the church, July 6th, 1842, and was dismissed from his pastoral 
charge, January 30th, 1844. In his support the church was aided 
by L the Home Missionary Society. Rev. Ebenezer H. Stratton 



508 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



received a commission from the same Society to supply this church 
in November, 1845, which w r as renewed in 1846. In his report to 
the Society, he speaks of the congregation as " small and widely 
dispersed." What other ministerial aid this church has enjoyed 
is not known to the writer. A large proportion of the time it has 
been reported vacant. In 1832, eighteen members were reported 
as having been added the preceding year by profession. In 
1840, thirty were reported as thus added, indicating that those were 
years of spiritual prosperity. 

Wilson. — This church was received under the care of the Pres- 
bytery of Niagara, February 10th, 1819, and on the division of the 
Presbytery in 1823, was assigned to that which retained the ori- 
ginal name. The author supposes that it was a newly organized 
church, and that the settlement of the town at that period was 
recent. In 1825, the church consisted of twenty-two members. In 
1833, it had increased to eighty-four, and in 1846, it numbered one 
hundred and forty. For several years after its organization, its mem- 
bers were few, and it seems generally to have been vacant. As 
stated supplies at 'different periods, Rev. Messrs. Silas Parsons, An- 
drew Rawson, John Elliot, and G. W. Lane, have been employed. 
Rev. Elisha B. Sherwood was. installed pastor of the church, Sept. 
11th, 1839, and was dismissed May 6th, 1841. In 1846, Rev. Thomas 
Payne was reported as pastor. In 1827, the church consisted of but 
twenty-three members. From that period it seems to have been 
favored with repeated revivals, bringing accessions of hopeful con- 
verts from the world of the ungodly. In 1843, the whole number 
of members reported was one hundred and sixty-one. It does not 
appear that this church has ever received the aid of the American 
Home Missionary Society. 

Porter. — This church has its location at the village of Youngs- 
town in the town of Porter. It was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Niagara, June 27th, 1824, supposed to have been 
then a newly organized church. In 1825, it consisted of thirteen 
members; in 1831, of only twelve; in 1840, of one hundred and 
three ; in 1843, of two hundred and sixty-eight ; and in 1846, of 
two hundred and thirty-one. It is reported as furnished with a stated 
supply in 1825. But from that period down to 1832, it is uniformly 
reported as vacant. In that year Rev. Ebenezer H. Stratton is 
reported as the stated supply. He seems, however, to have con- 
tinued not long. Rev. John Elliot was installed pastor of the 
church, September 10th, 1839, and continued till May 6th, 1844,, 
when he was dismissed. He was succeeded by Rev. Roderick L. 
Hurlbut, who was ordained and installed pastor of the church, 
January, 15th, 1845. For a considerable number of years this 
church was very small and feeble, and blessed with no revival ; 
but at length the Lord turned their captivity. In June, 1841, the 



PRESBYTERY OF NIAGARA. 



509 



Presbytery of Niagara record on their Minutes — " the church of 
Youngstown, four years ago, had but two male members. In less 
than three years they have had three precious revivals, and now 
number about 200 members." Since that period, their number has 
considerably increased, showing that the Lord is still gracious. 
This church has never been aided by the American Home Mis- 
sionary Society. They have an appropriate house of worship. 

Lewiston. — This village, situated in the town of Lewiston, was 
said, in 1813, to consist of about twelve houses, and to be a place 
of considerable business. The church was received under the care 
of the Presbytery of Geneva, Feb. 12th, 1817. It is supposed to 
have been recently formed. At the organization of the Presbytery 
of Niagara, it was transferred to that body, and, on its division, was 
assigned to the Presbytery which retains the name of Niagara. In 
1825, its number of members was twenty-three ; in 1832, only 
eleven ; in 1843, one hundred and thirty-seven ; and, in 1846, 
seventy. Rev. David M. Smith was ordained and installed pastor 
of the church, Sept. 16th, 1817. He continued in the pastorate till 
July 1st, 1S28, when he was dismissed. After Mr. Smith's dismis- 
sion, the church appears to have been in a low state, and, for several 
years, was reported as vacant. In May, 1835, Rev. Joel Byington 
commenced labor as a stated supply, and continued between one 
and two years. He was succeeded by Rev. Herman Halsey, who 
supplied this church, in connexion with Niagara, one year. In 
July, 1841, Mr. Byington was again employed, and continued to 
officiate as a stated supply two or three years. In the support of 
these ministers the church received aid from the American Home 
Missionary Society. Rev. Reese C. Evans was ordained and in- 
stalled pastor of the church, Jan. 8th, 1846, and was dismissed, 
June 30th of the same year. In 1838, and in 1842, revivals of re- 
ligion were enjoyed, by which the church was raised from her low 
estate, and her numbers much enlarged. This church has an ap- 
propriate house of worship, which was built many years since 
The Episcopalians, the Baptists, and the Universalists, have each a 
house of worship in the village of Lewiston. 

Cambria. — This town, when first organized, included the whole 
of the present county of Niagara. The population of the town in 
1810, numbered 1465. A church was organized in the town of 
Cambria, which was received under the care of the Presbytery of 
Niagara, Jan. 29th, 1823, and, on the division of the Presbytery, 
was assigned to that which retained the name of Niagara. In 
1825, the church numbered twenty-three members ; in 1829, forty- 
five ; and, in 1833, forty-eight. This is the last notice which the 
author has found. In 1827, Rev. Silas Parsons, under the patronage 
of the American Home Missionary Society, became a stated supply- 



510 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



to this church, and seems to have continued for two years. Rev. 
Herman Halsey is reported as the stated supply, in 1832, '33, and 
'34. After the last mentioned year, the name of the church is 
dropped from the reports of the Preshytery, till 1846, when it re- 
curs again, and is reported as enjoying the labors of a stated 
supply. 

Lockport First Church. — The village of Lockport had its origin 
from the construction of the Erie canal, and is therefore of com- 
paratively recent date. A Presbyterian church was organized, 
which was received under the care of the Presbytery of Niagara, 
Jan. 28th, 1823. On the division of the Presbytery, it was assign- 
ed to that which retained the original name. In 1825, it embraced 
fifty-five members. The next year it had increased to the number 
of one hundred and fourteen. In 1832, the number was three hun- 
dred and fifty-five, and, in 1846, two hundred and eighty-six. Rev. 
Aratus Kent was here as stated supply, in 1825. How long he 
continued is not known to the writer. Rev. William F. Curry was 
installed pastor, Feb. 12th, 1828, and the pastoral relation was dis- 
solved, Jan .31st, 1832. Rev. Joseph Myers was installed pastor, 
Nov. 8th, 1832, and dismissed from his charge, July 8th, 1834. 
Rev. Gilbert Crawford succeeded him as stated supply for a season. 
Rev. Nathaniel W. Fisher received the pastoral charge of the 
church, July 10th, 1839, and was dismissed, May 11th, 1842. He 
was succeeded by Rev. William C. Wisner, who was inducted 
into the pastorate, June 29th, 1842, and still sustains his charge. 
In the latter part of the year 1824, and the early part of the next 
year, a blessed revival of religion was experienced, which more 
than doubled the number of members in the church. In 1831, one 
hundred and thirty-four members, and the next year, one hundred 
and thirty, were reported as added to the church, by profession. A 
similar addition of one hundred and thirty-four was reported in 
1843. These additions indicate that the converting influences of 
the Holy Spirit had been shed down in plentiful effusions, during 
those years. This church has never received aid from the Ameri- 
can Home Missionary Society. It has an appropriate house of 
worship. 

Lockport Second Church. — This church was received under the 
care of the Presbytery of Niagara, Feb. 1st, 1832. It had then re- 
cently been organized, and consisted of fifteen members. The next 
year it reported forty-three members ; in 1843, one hundred and 
eighty-six; and, in J 846, one hundred and fifty. The church has 
never had a regularly installed pastor, and, for a number of years, 
was reported as vacant. Rev. William C. Wisner labored as 
stated supply two or three years, commencing in 1839. Rev. W. 
Rosevelt succeeded him in 1812, and continued about three years. 



PRESBYTERY OF NIAGARA. 



511 



Rev. David Gushing was the next in succession, and continued one 
or two years. How the church has been supplied since Mr. 
Cushing's* departure, is not known to the writer. The church was 
aided by the American Home Missionary Society, in the support 
of Messrs. Wisner and Rosevelt. During the period of Mr. Rose- 
velt's ministry, a revival was enjoyed, which added ninety-three 
members to the church, on profession of faith. The church has an 
appropriate house of worship, which was erected in 1842. In 
1836 or the early part of the next year, a portion of the members 
of the church rejected the Standards of the Presbyterian Church, 
and constituted a separate organization. The author has not learn- 
ed whether this secession was on account of the doctrines of the 
Presbyterian church, cr on account of its discipline ; or whether 
both united constituted the grounds of secession. The Presbytery 
declared the members adhering to the Standards to be the Second 
Presbyterian Church of Lockport. 

Besides the two houses of worship in the village of Lockport be- 
longing to the Presbyterians, the Congregationalists have one ; the 
Episcopalians, one; the Baptists, one; the Methodists, one; the 
Lutherans, one ; the Quakers, one or two : the Africans, one ; and 
the Roman Catholics have a mass-house. 

Royalton. — This church was received under the care of the ori- 
ginal Presbytery of Niagara, July 4th, 1820, and on the division of 
the Presbytery was assigned to that which retained the name. In 
1825, it consisted of fifty-three members; in 1832, of sixty-nine; 
and in 1836, of ninety-eight. This is the last enumeration which 
the author has seen. Rev. George Col ton was installed pastor of 
the church, June 12th, 1822. He continued in the pastorate till 
June 30th, 1829, when he was discharged from his pastoral charge. 
The church was assisted in the support of Mr. Colton at least one 
year by the United Domestic Missionary Society. The name of 
Rev. Alvan Ingersoll is found in the report of the American Home 
Missionary Society, as missionary to this church for one year from 
August, 1835. Mr. Ingersoll reported a revival as having been 
enjoyed, during which sixty hopeful conversions had occurred. 
Rev. Richard Dunning is also reported as a missionary to this 
church for one year from November, 1840. He also reports a 
revival, with forty hopeful conversions. What other ministerial 
aid the church has enjoyed is not known to the writer. This 
church was regularly reported by the Presbytery in their statistical 
reports to the General Assembly till 1836. Since that year its 
name is not found in the reports. 

Middleport. — This village is situated on the Erie canal, in the 
town of Royalton, and has its origin in the construction of the canal. 
The Presbyterian church in the village was organized, June 11th, 



512 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



1833, by Rev. Messrs. Rawson, Read, Mead, and Page, and was 
received under the care of the Presbytery of Niagara on the 
twenty-fifth day of the same month. In 1836 it numbered thirty- 
three members, and in 1846, eighty. As stated supplies under the 
patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, we find in 
succession the names of Rev. Messrs. Adino Stanley, Herman 
Halsey, Beaufort Ladd, Richard Dunning, Samuel A. Rawson, and 
Elisha B. Sherwood. None of them except Mr. Sherwood appear to 
have continued more than one year. Mr. Sherwood remained three 
years, and left in June, 1845, and was succeeded by Rev. William 
Bridgeman. Mr. Rawson reported a revival in 1839, with thirty- 
five hopeful converts. Mr. Sherwood also reported a revival in 
1843, with fifty hopeful converts. The church has a house of 
worship erected in 1845. The Methodist denomination has also a 
house of worship in the village. 

Medina. — This village, situated in the town of Ridgway, on the 
Erie canal, has grown up as the consequence of the construction 
of the canal. The church is first noticed in the records of the 
Presbytery of Niagara, as under the care of the Presbytery, Jan. 
25th, 1831. In 1833, it was composed of one hundred and seven 
members ; in 1836, of two hundred and seven ; and in 1846, of 
two hundred and forty-one. Rev. Maltby Gelston labored here as 
a stated supply during the years 1831 and '32. He was succeeded 
in April, 1833, by Rev. Herbert A. Reed, who continued three or 
four years. Rev. George W. Prudden was ordained and installed 
pastor of this church, Sept. 24th, 1839. He continued in the 
pastorate till July 16th, 1844, when the relation was dissolved. 
Rev. Charles E. Furman was installed pastor, Dec. 29th, 1847, and 
now holds this relation. What other stated supplies have been 
employed are not known to the writer. In 1831, the church, under 
the labors of Mr. Gelston, enjoyed a precious revival. About forty 
were numbered as hopeful converts. Another revival under the 
labors of Mr. Reed was enjoyed in 1833 and '34, as the result of 
which the church was greatly enlarged. In 1837, thirty members 
were reported as having been added the previous year by exami- 
nation, indicating that the Spirit had been poured out upon* the 
congregation. Since that period the church does not seem to have 
received any remarkable increase. The church in its infancy re- 
ceived the aid of the American Home Missionary Society three or 
four years. It has a commodious house of worship. There are 
also in the village of Medina one Baptist, one Methodist, and one 
Episcopal house of worship. 

Knowlesville. — This village, like the preceding, is situated in the 
town of Ridgway on the Erie canal, and has its growth from the 
construction of the canal. The Presbyterian church, whose place 



PRESBYTERY OF NIAGARA. 



513 



of meeting is in this village, was originally denominated the church 
of Ridgeway, and by that name it is generally designated in the 
records and reports of the Presbytery. This church was received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Rochester, June 27th, 1820, 
and was transferred to the Presbytery of Niagara at the organiza- 
tion of that body. In 1825, it was composed of thirty-three mem- 
bers ; in 1832, of one hundred and sixty-five; in 1840, of two 
hundred and nine ; and in 1846, of one hundred and seventy. Rev. 
David Pratt was ordained and installed pastor of this church, Aug. 
2d, 1820. The pastoral relation was dissolved, Jan. 27th, 1824. 
Subsequent to this date he appears to have officiated for a season 
as stated supply. Rev. David Page was reported as stated supply 
in 1831 and '32, and Rev. Ebenezer Mead in 1834. Rev. John 
Thalimer was installed pastor of the church, Feb. 16th, 1836. He 
was dismissed, Jan. 30th, 1838. He was succeeded for a season 
by Rev. Richard Dunning as stated supply. Rev. Josiah Parting- 
ton was installed into the pastoral office, July 9th, 1839, and con- 
tinues to sustain the relation. Under the ministry of Mr. Pratt in 
1821, God was pleased to pour out his Spirit upon the congrega- 
tion, and as many as forty were reckoned as the subjects of renew- 
ing grace. In 1831 and '32 seventy five members were reported 
as added to the church by profession, indicating that the showers 
of the Spirit had descended from on high. Other seasons of less 
ingathering are noticed. This church seems never to have received 
foreign aid in supporting its ministers. It has an appropriate house 
of worship in the village of Knowlesville. There are also two 
other houses of worship in the village, but to what denominations 
they belong the author is not informed. 

Gaines. — This church was received under the care of the Pres- 
bytery of Rochester, April 16th, 1822, and was transferred to the 
Presbytery of Niagara on its organization. In 1825, it consisted 
of thirty-one members ; in 1832, of one hundred and twenty-six ; 
in 1836, of one hundred and eighty-seven ; and the succeeding 
year, of one hundred and thirty-five. Since that period the author has 
seen no report of its number. As stated supplies, Rev. George 
Goodyear, Rev. David Pratt, Rev. Chandler Bates, and Rev. Hilan 
Hulburd, had severally officiated previous to 1837. On the twenty- 
eighth day of February of that year, Rev. J. P. Hovey was 
ordained and installed pastor of the church, but was dismissed. 
May 1st, 1838. In 1845, Rev. Mr. Dewey was officiating as stated 
supply. In 1832, one hundred and three members were reported 
as having been added to the church the previous year by profession, 
indicating the presence and gracious influences of the Holy Spirit 
upon the congregation. In 1838 this church is mentioned on the 
minutes of the Presbytery as one on which the spiritual dew of 
heaven had descended. The church received aid one year in the 

33 



514 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



support of Mr. Goodyear from the American Home Missionary 
Society. Oct. 13th, 1840, the church took a dismission from the 
Presbytery for the purpose of uniting with the Genesee Consocia- 
tion. It has an appropriate house of worship in the village of 
Gaines. The Methodist denomination also has a house of worship 
in the village. 

Albion. — This village, situated on the Erie canal in the town of 
Barre, was founded in 1827 by Nehemiah lngersoll and George 
Standart, jun. The Presbyterian church was thefirst religious body 
organized, and was formed, July 22d, 1824, by Rev. William 
Johnson. At its organization it consisted of sixteen members, of 
whom eight still remained in September, 1845. The village was at 
first called Newport, and by that name the church was received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Niagara in 1 82 4 or 1825. In 
the last mentioned year, it consisted of twenty-two members ; in 
1831, one hundred and thirty; in 183G, three hundred and forty- 
three ; in 1843, three hundred and sixty ; and in 184f>, three hun- 
dred and five. Mr. Johnson, who organized the church, continued 
with it as a stated supply until 1826. Rev. Lewis Cheeseman was 
ordained and installed pastor of the church, Oct. 3d, 1827, and 
was dismissed from his charge, Sept. 24th, 1829. He was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. Benjamin Lane, who commenced his labors with 
the congregation early in the year 1830, was installed as pastor, 
April 19th, 1831, and dismissed, June 31st, 1832. Rev. Gilbert 
Crawford commenced labor as a stated supply in 1834. He was 
installed as Pastor, Feb. 5th, 1835, but on account of a failure of 
health was dismissed, Dec. 1st, of the same year. From April to 
October, 1836, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Ferdinand Ward, 
since a missionary in Southern India. From October, 1836, to March, 
1838, Rev. E. R. Beadle officiated as stated supply. He has since 
gone as a foreign missionary to Syria. Rev. John Keep officiated 
as stated supply from July, 1838, to March, 1839. In October of 
the last named year, Rev. Gilbert Crawford again took charge of 
the church as a stated supply, and continued till May, 1842. In 
June of that year, Rev. William N. M'Harg commenced his mi- 
nistry with the church, was ordained and installed its pastor, Oct. 
26th, 1842, and still retains the office. During the ministry of Mr. 
Lane a blessed revival was experienced, which resulted in a large 
accession of members to the church, and gave a moral and religious 
tone of character to the place, which by the grace of God has been 
quite permanent. During the winter following the settlement of 
Mr. M'Harg, a very precious revival was enjoyed, in the progress 
of which the pastor was very materially assisted by his prede- 
cessor Mr. Crawford. The result was the addition of about eighty 
members to the communion of the church. 

This church has from the first always borne its own expenses 



PRESBYTERY OF NIAGARA. 



515 



without foreign aid. In 1839, the church erected a house of wor- 
ship, at an expense of $4500, which was occupied by the congre- 
gation till 1845, when it was sold to the Episcopal Society, and a 
new and spacious one, constructed of brick, eighty feet in length 
by fifty in breadth, was erected, the cost of which was estimated 
at $8000. The church has been blessed with harmony among its 
members, and the agitations which have distracted so many 
churches for some years past, have affected it but little. The 
proportion of the population connected with this congregation may 
perhaps be estimated at one fifth. Intermixed with the congrega- 
tion are organized societies of Baptists, Methodists, and Episcopa- 
lians. The Baptist church numbers about two hundred and 
seventy members: the Methodist about two hundred : and the 
Episcopal about forty. Each of these denominations has its own 
house of worship, 

Barre Centre. — This church, originally denominated Barre, was 
received under the care of the Presbytery of Rochester, June 27th, 
1820, and was transferred to the Presbytery of Niagara on the or- 
ganization of that body. It was dismissed, on application, to join 
the Genesee Consociation, June 3wtb, 1840, and was again received 
under the care of the Presbytery, Oct. 14th, 1845. It numbered, in 

1825, forty-nine members; in 1836, one hundred and twenty-five; 
and in 1846, one hundred and seventy-five. What ministerial aid 
the church enjoyed in its early days is not known to the writer. 
He believes that Rev. Andrew Rawson officiated as stated supply 
for a considerable period, and as early as 1821 or '22 Rev. William 
Johnson, under the patronage of the American Home Missionary 
Society, labored here as stated supply two years, from October, 

1826. Rev. Ebenezer Raymond, under the same patronage, was 
stated supply one year, from November, 1832. Rev. Jonathan 
Hovey was installed pastor of the church, Feb. 4th, 1835, and the 
pastoral relation was dissolved July 16th, 1839. What ministerial 
labor since the dismission of Mr. Hovey, has been enjoyed, is not 
known to the author. This church has an appropriate house of 
worship. 

Millville— This is a small village in the town of Shelby. The 
church formerly was known by that name, and is so designated in 
the Reports of the Presbytery till 1837. It was received under the 
care of the Presbytery of Rochester, April 17th, 1821, and was as- 
signed to the Presbytery of Niagara on the organization of that 
body. In 1825 its number of members was thirty-six ; in 1836, 
eighty-four; and in 1846, fifty-two. As stated supplies at differ- 
ent periods, Rev. Messrs. Alanson Darwin, William P. Kendrick, 
Ebenezer Raymond, and Samuel A. Rawson, have been employed. 
Rev. Richard Dunning was installed pastor of the church, Feb. 3d, 



516 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



1835, and retained the office till June 26th, 1838, when the pastoral 
relation was dissolved. In the support of the above-named, the 
church received aid from the American Home Missionary Society. 
The present pastor, Rev. Elisha B. Benedict, was ordained and in- 
stalled Oct. 28th, 1842. In April, 1821, this church reported a revi- 
val as having been enjoyed, resulting in the hopeful conversion of 
about fifty individuals. In 1832, twenty members were reported 
as having been added to the church on profession, the preceding 
year, indicating the presence and saving operations of the Divine 
Spirit in a measure. This church has an appropriate house of 
worship. There is also in the village a house of worship belonging 
to the Society of Friends. 

Pendleton. — The village of Pendleton, in the town of the same 
name, is situated on the Erie Canal. A church was here organized 
by a committee of the Presbytery of Niagara, in 1833, and was re- 
ceived under the care of the Presbytery, June 26th, of that year. 
The writer has found no report of the number of its members ex- 
cept for the year 1843. It that year reported twenty-six. It has 
generally been reported as vacant. Rev. Roswell Brooks, under 
the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, officiated 
as stated supply to this church and that of Chalmers two years, from 
April, 1841. What other ministerial aid it has enjoyed, is not 
known to the writer, nor does he know what has become of the 
church. Its name has been dropped from the list of churches be- 
longing to the Presbytery. 

Chalmers. — This is a small village in the town of Niagara. At 
what period a church was organized here is not known to the 
writer. He finds it reported in 1840, as a church under the care 
of the Presbytery of Niagara. In that year it consisted of forty- 
nine members; in 1843, of seventy-nine ; and in 1846, of fifty-four. 
In September, 1837, Rev. Herman Halsey was commissioned by 
the American Home Missionary Society to labor here one year, 
which commission the writer supposes that he fulfilled. In 1840, 
Rev. John Elliott is reported as a stated supply to this church. 
Rev. Roswell Brooks, under the patronage of the American Home 
Missionary Society, supplied this church, in connexion with that of 
Pendleton, two years, from April, 1841. 

Niagara Falls. — This village is located on the Niagara river, 
adjoining the Falls. It was laid out in 1807, by Messrs. Porter and 
Barton, on land then entirely wild. It was then named Manches- 
ter, but has for many years past been known as Niagara Falls. 
The names of Niagara, Manchester, and Niagara Falls, have all 
been applied to the church in this place. At what time this church 
was organized is not known to the writer. At the organization of 



/ 



PRESBYTERY OF NIAGARA. 517 

the Presbytery of Niagara, it is recognised as one of the churches 
connected with that body, but the author finds no mention of it in 
the records of the Presbytery of Buffalo. In 1825 it numbered but 
five members ; in 1829, twenty-seven; in 1832, seventy-four ; and 
in 1840, seventy. This is the last enumeration which the writer has 
seen. As stated supplies for different periods, the author finds the 
names of Rev. Messrs. Horatio A. Parsons, Ashley M. Gilbert, 
Malt by Gelston, Roswell G. Murray, Royal Mann, and Henry 
Calahan. The last is supposed to be still ministering to the church. 
In the support of several of these, the church has been aided by 
the American Home Missionary Society. In the year 1832, sixty- 
four members were reported as having been received the preced- 
ing year by profession, indicating that the showers of mercy which 
visited our land in so remarkable a manner during that memorable 
year, were vouchsafed to this church in a good measure. An ap- 
propriate house of worship was erected in 1832 or '33. The church 
in 1841 declared itself independent of the Presbytery, and its name 
was stricken from the roll of churches in connexion with that body, 
May 5th, of that year. 



518 



CHAPTER XXXIII, 

Presbytery of Buffalo: — Newstead, Clarence, Black Rock, Buffalo First, Buffalo Free 
Congregational, Buffalo Pearl, Buffalo Park, Buffalo La Fayette Street, Buffalo Ger- 
man, Buffalo French Church, Indian Stations, Lancaster, Alden, Wales, East Au- 
rora, West Aurora, Hamburgh, Kvans, Eden, Boston, Colden, Holland, Concord, 
Sf>ringville, Collins, Hanover, Forrestville, Silver Creek, Sheridan, Dunkirk, Fre- 
donia, Villanova, Lodi, West Otto, East Otto, Ashford, Franklinville, Ellicottville, 
Cherry Creek, Charlotte, Stockton, Chautauque, Portland, Westfield, Ripley, May- 
ville, EUery, Ellington, Connewango, Napoli, Great Valley, Randolph, Waterboro% 
Ellicott, Jamestown, Ashville, Mina, Panama, Busti, Carroll. 

In our progress westward we now arrive at the territory over 
which the churches are distributed, which are or have been con- 
nected with 

THE PRESBYTERY OF BUFFALO. 

This Presbytery was originally denominated the Presbytery of 
Niagara, but at the time of its division, the new Presbytery formed 
from the northern part of this Presbytery and the western part of 
Rochester, was named Niagara, and the remaining portion received 
the name of Buffalo, retaining the records of the original Presby- 
tery. In narrating the history of the churches which have been 
connected with this Presbytery, we shall use the designation by 
which it is now known, even when we refer to the period when it 
had the name of Niagara. In this way we shall clearly distin- 
guish it from the Presbytery now known as the Presbytery of 
Niagara. 

In commencing at the north-eastern section of the territory, we 
begin with the church of 

Newstead. — This town was formerly a part of the town of 
Clarence. The Presbyterian church of Newstead was set off from 
the church of Clarence by the Presbytery of Buffalo, September 3d, 
1839. In 1840, it reported sixty-one members; and in 1846, 
forty-two. Rev. Oren Catlin, under the patronage of the American ' 
Home Missionary Society, officiated as stated supply one year from 
June, 1842, and Rev. Eber Child one year from January, 1846. 
This is all the information that the writer has respecting this 
church. 

Clarence. — The town of Clarence was organized in 1808, and it 
then included the present towns of Newstead, Alden, Lancaster, 
Clarence, Amherst, Chictawaga, Buffalo City, Black Rock, and 



PRESBYTERY OF BUFFALO. 



519 



Tonawanda. In 1810 it was divided, and the town of Buffalo 
erected from it, leaving to Clarence the four first-mentioned of the 
above towns. The first Presbyterian church of Clarence was or- 
ganized by Rev. James H. Mills, then a missionary from the Evan- 
gelical Missionary Society of Young Men in the City of New 
York. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, 
February 3d, 1818. In 1827, it reported twelve members; the 
next year, thirty ; in 1837, seventy; and in 1840, sixty-five. This 
is the last report which the author has seen. For about two years 
after the organization of the church, Mr. Mills continued his labors 
with them, probably, for a part of the time. From the period of 
his departure, for several years the congregation was without the 
regular preaching of the gospel, with the exception of about six 
months, during which period Rev. Herman Halsey labored with 
them one half of the time. In January, 1827, Rev. Henry Safford 
was commissioned by the American Home Missionary Society to 
labor in the place. He continued as stated supply three years, 
during a part of which he also supplied the church of Cayuga 
Creek. Since his departure, Rev. Milo N. Miles is found as stated 
supply ; for how long a period is not known to the writer. After 
him, Rev. Wm. P. Jackson, under a commission from the American 
Home Missionary Society, supplied two years. What other minis- 
terial aid the church has enjoyed is not known to the author. In 
1846, it was reported vacant. The church has a house of worship, 
and a parsonage. 

Black Rack. — The Presbyterian church in this village was or- 
ganized by a committee of the Presbytery of Buffalo in 1831, and 
was received under the care of the Presbytery, November 10th, of 
that year. At its organization it consisted of twenty-three mem- 
bers. In 1833, it numbered thirty-six, and in 1843, thirty-nine. 
This is the last enumeration which the author has seen. Rev. 
James D. Moore, under the patronage of the American Home 
Missionary Society, supplied the church from September, 1840, to 
April, 1843. In 1846, the church was reported vacant. 

Buffalo First Presbyterian Church. — The settlement of the 
city of Buffalo commenced about the year 1800. John Johnston, 
John Crowe, Jacob A. Baker, and Amos Calender, were some of 
the first settlers. The early settlers were mostly from New Eng- 
land. The first church of any denomination organized in this city 
is the church now known as the First Presbyterian Church of 
Buffalo. It was organized February 2d, 1812, by Rev. Thaddeus 
Osgood, an itinerant missionary, and well known for his self-denying 
labors to promote the salvation of his dying fellow-men. The 
church at its organization consisted of twenty-nine members, of 
whom eight were males, and twenty-one females. The war with 



520 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Great Britain, and the burning of the village of Buffalo, for a season 
almost extinguished the church, though it continued to hold occa- 
sional meetings through most of that period of disaster. In 1815, 
it was resuscitated, and was received under the care of the Presby- 
tery of Geneva, February 14th, 1816. On the division of that 
Presbytery, it was assigned to the Presbytery of Buffalo. In 1825, 
it numbered 119 members, and by an almost annual increase, 
in 1846 reported 502 as its number. Till 1815, the church had 
enjoyed no regular preaching. In the spring or summer of that 
year, Rev. Miles P. Squier, then a licentiate preacher of the gos- 
pel, in the service of the Young People's Missionary Society of 
Western New York, visited the place and spent two weeks, 
preaching in the village. He soon afterwards returned to New 
England ; but in the month of November, in accordance with a 
written invitation of the principal citizens of Buffalo, returned to 
the village, and was ordained and installed pastor of the church by 
the Presbytery of Geneva, May Sd, 1816. Mr. Squier continued 
pastor of the church till September 16th, 1824, when the pastoral 
relation was dissolved. During the period of his ministry, the 
population of the place and the number of attendants on the worship 
of the church were greatly enlarged, and the church in the num- 
ber of its members in a tenfold proportion. On the day succeeding 
the dismission of Mr. Squier, Rev. Gilbert Crawford was ordained, 
and installed pastor of the church. He continued in the station till 
September 16th, 1828, when he was dismissed. Rev. Sylvester 
Eaton was the next pastor. He was inducted into the pastorate, 
April 9th, 1829, and left it September 2d, 1834. He was followed 
by Rev. Asa T. Hopkins, D.D., whose installation occurred Feb. 
17th, 1836. The relation was dissolved by his lamented decease, 
November 27th, 1847. Under the ministry of its several pastors, 
this church has enjoyed much prosperity, and several seasons of 
extensive revival. In the report of the church for 1832, 114 were 
reported as having been, the preceding year, added to the church 
by profession. In several other years the number was large. The 
interest which this church has taken in the benevolent operations 
of the day is indicative of the tone of pious feeling existing. The 
aggregate of its contributions for these objects in 1843, was some- 
what over $14,000. The church has never received aid from any 
Missionary Society. 

Before the burning of the village, the church held their meetings 
in a school-house in Pearl street. Their first assemblage, after 
three years of dispersion, was in the dwelling-house of Deacon 
Callender ; afterwards in a part of the building now known as the 
Mansion House ; then at the Inn, corner of Main and Huron 
streets ; next in a barn opposite the last-named place ; subsequent- 
ly in the long room of the Eagle tavern ; afterwards in the Court- 
House ; again, in a District School-House. From this the meetings 



PRESBYTERY OF BUFFALO. 



521 



were moved to a small Lecture Room, built by the Society on the 
site of the present church edifice, which site was a donation of the 
Holland Land Company. The brick edifice, now occupied by the 
congregation, is a splendid building, which was erected in 1823, 
at an expense of $17,500. 

Buffalo Free Congregational Church. — This church was or- 
ganized by Rev. Sylvester Eaton, in 1832, consisting of twenty- 
four members. It was received under the care of the Presbytery 
of Buffalo, July 10th, 1832. In 1833, it reported eighty-three 
members, and in 1837, two hundred and thirty-seven. Rev. Job 
H. Martyn was installed pastor of this church, Oct. 31st, 1832. 
He was dismissed, Jan. 28th, 1835. Rev. George R. Rudd suc- 
ceeded him as stated supply. How long he continued is not re- 
collected by the writer. During the period of Mr. Martyn's minis- 
try large accessions were made to the church. In 1834, one 
hundred and fifty members were reported as having been added 
by profession the year preceding. The author finds no report of 
this church subsequent to 1837. Whether the church has with- 
drawn from its connexion with the Presbytery to form some other 
connexion, or is broken up and merged in other churches, is not 
known to him. 

Buffalo Pearl Street. Church, — This church was organized by 
a committee of the Presbytery of Buffalo, Nov. 13th, 1835, and 
was received under the care of the Presbytery, Jan. 26th, 1836. 
In 1837, it numbered one hundred and seventy members ; and in 
1846, four hundred and six. Soon after the organization of the 
church, Rev. John C. Lord (now Dr. Lord) was employed as a 
candidate for settlement, and was installed pastor of the church, 
Feb. 1st, 1837, a relation which he still retains. Under his minis- 
try the church has greatly increased in numbers, whether as the 
result of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, or from other causes, is 
not known to the writer. This church with its pastor some years 
since seceded from the Presbytery of Buffalo, and connected them- 
selves with the Presbytery of Wyoming (Old School). On the 
division of that Presbytery, they became a part of the Presbytery 
of Buffalo City, which is connected with the Synod of Buffalo 
(Old School). 

Buffalo Park. — This church was organized and received under 
the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, April 16th, 1839. In 1840, 
it was reported as consisting of sixty members ; and in 1843, of 
two hundred and twenty-one. In 1846, its name is not found on 
the Statistical Report. Rev. Luther H. Arigier was ordained and 
installed its pastor, March 4th, 1840. 

Buffalo La Fayette Street Church. — The name of this church 



522 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



is first found in the Statistical Tables for 1846. It was then re- 
ported as under the care of the Presbytery of Buffal >, composed 
of thirty members, and having Rev. GrosVenor W. Heacock for 
its pastor. 

Buffalo German Evangelical Church. — This church was organ- 
ized in 1832, by Rev. Asa Lyman. The writer supposes that it 
was constituted principally, if not wholly, of immigrants directly 
from Germany. It was received under the care of the Presbytery 
of Buffalo. Its present connexion is with the Presbytery of Buf- 
falo City. In 1833, it consisted of seventy-one members ; in 1834, 
of ninety. Since that period the author has seen no enumeration. 
Rev. Joseph M. Gumbell officiated as stated supply, under the pa- 
tronage of the American Home Missionary Society, from August, 
1832, till August, 1836. Under the same patronage, Rev. Frederick 
Launer officiated one or two years. In June, 1840, Mr. Gumbell 
returned, and for two years ministered to the church as stated 
supply, under a commission from the American Home Missionary 
Society. What is the present state of the church is not known to 
the writer. During the first period of Mr. Gumbell's ministry, 
more than two hundred members were added to the church on a 
profession of faith in Christ, and more than two hundred children 
of German emigrants taught to read in the English language. 
The church has an appropriate house of worship. In 1846, it was 
reported as having a stated supply. 

Buffalo French Protestant Church. — The author supposes that 
this church is composed of foreign immigrants who speak the 
French language. It was received under the care of the Presby- 
tery of Buffalo, Sept. 3d, 1844. In 1846, it was reported as having 
a stated supply. The author has seen no report of its numbers at 
any period. 

In the city of Buffalo, in the year 1842, the houses of worship 
then existing, were, three Presbyterian, two Episcopal, one Bap- 
tist, one Methodist, one Bethel, three German Protestant, two 
African, one Unitarian, one Universalist, and two Roman Catholic. 

Indian Stations. — In the sale of their lands on the western side 
of the Genesee river to Robert Morris, the Indians made several 
considerable Reservations for their own occupancy. The Tusca- 
rora Reservation was in the town of Lewiston, where in 1842 about 
300 Indians still had their habitation. The Seneca Reservation 
adjoined the city of Buffalo, and included parts of the towns of 
Black Rock, Checktowaga, Lancaster, Alden, Wales, Aurora, and 
Hamburgh. Here in 1842 were about 1000 Indians. The Catta- 
raugus Creek Reservation is situated on the southern part of Erie 
County, extending into Cattaraugus County. Here were in 1842 



PRESBYTERY OF BUFFALO. 



523 



about 600 Indians, occupying a settlement, lying partly in the town 
of Brandt, and partly in the town of Collins. The Alleghany Re- 
servation, consisting of forty-two square miles, was situated on the 
Alleghany river, in the county of Cattaraugus. The first of these 
Reservations is within the boundaries of the Presbytery of Niagara, 
the others within those of the Presbytery of Buffalo. In each of 
these settlements, missions for the civilization and Christianization 
of the Indians have been established. These missions were com- 
menced about the commencement of the present century by the 
New York Missionary Society. They were given up to the Unit- 
ed Foreign Mission Society on the organization of that body in 
1821 ; and from that Society passed under the care of the Ameri- 
can Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mission in 1828, when the 
United Foreign Mission Society was dissolved. 

The mission at the Tuscarora village was commenced in 1800 or 
1801. The missionaries who have labored at this station, besides 
assistants, as far as known to the writer, are Rev. Messrs. Elkanah 
Holmes, James C. Crane, David M. Smith, Joseph Lane, John El- 
liot, Joel Wood, William Williams, and Gilbert Rockwood. At 
what period a church was organized is not known to the writer. 
In 1826, it was reported as including seventeen members, native 
Indians,; in 1832, fifty-nine ; in 1835, sixty-one ; and in 1844, fifty- 
six. This is the last enumeration that the author has seen. 

The mission at the Seneca. Station near Buffalo was commenced 
in 1811. The missionaries who have labored at this station, be- 
sides assistants, are Rev. Thompson S. Harris and Rev. Asher 
Wright. In 1826 there were four native Indians members of the 
church; in 1828, forty-nine ; in 1833, sixty, and in 1842, twenty- 
eight. In 1843, this Reservation was sold, and the Indians have left 
it and gone elsewhere. 

The mission at the Cattaraugus Station was commenced in 1822. 
Rev. Asher Bliss has been the missionary. A church consisting of 
fourteen native members, was organized in 1827, and it was received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, Sept. 6th of that year. 
In 1828 it consisted of twenty-three members ; in 1822, of forty- 
one ; in 1837, of fifty-six ; and in 1842, of fifty. 

The mission at the Alleghany Station is of later date. In 1832 
there was a church composed of fifteen native members. The 
next year the number was twenty-six; in 1835, about forty- 
five ; and in 1842, sixty. At the four stations there were, in 1834, 
two hundred and eight native communicants; in 1836, one hun- 
dred and eighty-eight ; in 1845, two hundred and sixty-five ; and 
in 1848, three hundred and six. The mission at the Seneca Sta- 
tion has been broken up, and the Indians have left the Reservation 
and have gone to the Cattaraugus Reservation, or elsewhere. On 
this Reservation another church has been formed, or, perhaps, it 
would be more correct to say that the Seneca church has been 



524 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



transferred to this Reservation. There are six schools at these 
Stations, on which about one hundred and sixty-five persons at- 
tend. At each Station there is an appropriate house of worship, 
and a printing press is connected with the mission, at which 47,600 
pages in the Seneca language had been printed previous to the 
close of the year 1847. The Indians who adopted the Christian 
religion almost immediately adopted the dress and habits of civi- 
lized life. As early as 1825, a clergyman passing through the 
Indian settlement of Cattaraugus, found improved farms well 
fenced, and embracing large fields of wheat and corn. He was in- 
clined to forget that he was wandering among " the savages of the 
wilderness," as the Indians have been called, and to think himself 
among the husbandmen of a civilized country. He found some of 
the Indians in the field raking and binding wheat, some with their 
implements of agriculture passing along to the place of labor, and 
some with horses and wagons were drawing in their hay, and a 
number were engaged in constructing a dam for a saw-mill. In 
the Survey of the Missions of the Board for 1847, it is said, " There 
are now more striking marks of industry, good husbandry, and skill 
in the common arts of civilized life, than have ever before been 
seen in the houses or on the farms of this people." Revivals of 
religion have repeatedly occurred at all the Stations, and the Gos- 
pel has had the same efficacy among the Indians as among their 
white neighbors. The churches at Seneca and Cattaraugus have 
been connected with the Presbytery of Buffalo, though they have 
not been reported, since 1837. The Baptist denomination have had 
missions at Tuscarora and Tonawanda, but respecting their condi- 
tion the author is not informed. In 1844, the number of Indians of 
the Five Nations remaining in the State of New York was : — 
Oneidas, 210 ; — Cayugas on the Cattaraugus Reservation, 197; — 
Onondagas, 388 ; — Tuscaroras near Lewiston, 283 ; — Senecas on 
four Reservations, 2,383, making a total of 3,441. A large pro- 
portion of them still adhere to their pagan practices and modes of 
thinking. 

Lancaster. — This church was formerly known by the name of 
Cayuga creek, and by that name was received under the care of 
the Presbytery of Buffalo, Feb. 9th, 1819, and by that name was 
reported till 1834, when it received the name of Lancaster. In 
1826, it numbered twenty-five members ; in 1832, ninety-three ; in 
1834, one hundred and fifteen ; and in 1846, seventy-six. Rev. 
Henry Safford supplied this church in connexion with Clarence 
during the year 1827. Rev. James Remington succeeded him in 
January, 1828, and supplied nine months, when ill health obliged 
him to desist. He again commenced in June, 1829, and supplied 
this church in connexion with that of Alden for several years. 
The church was aided in the support of these ministers by the 



PRESBYTERY OF BUFFALO. 



525 



American Home Missionary Society, and a part of the time in the 
support of Mr. Remington by the Assembly's Board of Missions. 
Rev. Isaac Oaks was installed pastor of the church, June 24th, 
1834, and was dismissed, Sept. 4th, 1839. Since that period Mr. 
Remington has again been reported as a stated supply, but for how 
long a lime is not known to the writer. In 1846, the church was 
reported as having a stated supply. The years 1831 and '33 ap- 
pear to have been years of revival with this church. In the former 
forty- four, and in the latter, thirty-five members were added to the 
church by profession. The church has an appropriate house of 
worship. 

There is a church of Lancaster connected with the Presbytery 
of Buffalo City (Old School), which the writer supposes was formed 
by a. secession from the original church, but of its number and con- 
dition he is not informed. There is a Methodist house of worship 
in the village of Lancaster ; also one belonging to the Lutherans, 
and the Roman Catholics have a building appropriated to their 
forms of worship. 

Alden. — The town of Aid en was formerly a part of the town of 
Clarence, and the present church of Alden was originally denomi- 
nated the church of Clarence, or Clarence Union. It was formed, 
as the author supposes, a Congregational church, and was taken 
under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, July 1st, 1817. The 
name was changed to Alden, 1826. In 1827, it w T as reported as 
consisting of eight members; in 1832, of forty; and in 1834, of 
one hundred and nine. This is the last enumeration which the 
author has seen. Under the patronage of the American Home 
Missionary Society, Rev. Frye B. Reed supplied this church one- 
third of the time for one year from September, 1827, and Rev, 
James Remington a part of the time for one year from May, 1829. 
Rev. Simeon Peck, Rev. Hugh Wallis, Rev. James W. Woodward, 
and Rev. James Remington, were severally appointed by the 
Assembly's Board of Missions to minister to this church. In Sep- 
tember, 1836, Rev. George Coan was commissioned by the Ameri- 
can Home Missionary Society to labor in this place. He continued 
two years, during which period he reported an interesting revival, 
and seventy hopeful conversions. Rev. Hervey Chapin, under a 
similar commission, followed in July, 1842, and continued his labors 
for three years. By whom the church has been supplied since, is 
not known to the writer. In 1832, twenty, and in 1834, forty-nine 
members were reported as having been added to the church by 
profession the preceding years, indicating that an out-pouring of 
the Holy Spirit had been granted. This church has an appropri- 
ate house of worship. 

Wales. — This church was received under the care of the Pres- 



526 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



bytery of Buffalo, Feb. 8th, 1820. In 1825 the number of mem- 
bers was nine. In 1837 it was twenty-three, the highest number 
ever reported. It has uniformly been reported as vacant till 1843, 
when it was reported as having a stated supply. In 1846 its name 
was omitted in the Presbytery's report. Whether it has withdrawn 
from the Presbytery, or has become extinct, or was omitted by 
mistake in the Presbytery's report, is not known to the writer. 

East Aurora. — The town of Aurora is a part of the territory 
which formerly constituted the town of Willink, which name is 
now lost except as it is applied to a post-office in the town of Aurora. 
The two churches in the town under the care of the Presbytery of 
Buffalo were originally called by the name of Willink, afterwards 
Aurora. The church of East Aurora was received under the care 
of the Presbytery, July 7th, 1818. In 1825 and '26, the two 
churches having the same pastor were reported conjointly. The 
number of members in the two churches reported was, for 1825, 
thirty-two, and for 1826, eighty-eight. In 1827, the number 
reported for East Aurora was thirty-one ; in 1832, eighty-six ; and 
in 1836, ninety-four. This is the last report that the author has 
seen. Rev. Edmund Ingalls was ordained and installed pastor of 
this church in conjunction with that of West Aurora, Feb. 12th, 
1819. The relation was dissolved, Sept. 14th, 1824. Rev. 
Matthew Dutton succeeded him in the pastorate of both churches, 
Nov. 15th, 1825. He was dismissed from East Aurora, Feb. 1st, 
1827. Since that period no pastor has been installed. As stated 
supplies under the patronage of the American Home Missionary 
Society, Rev. John T. Baldwin, Rev. Eliphalet M. Spencer, Rev. 
N. S. Smith, Rev. Levi A. Skinner, Rev. Calvin Gray, and Rev. 
Samuel A. Rawson, have officiated at different times, most of them 
ministering at the same time to another church. In 1832, forty- 
three members were reported as having been added by profession 
to the church the preceding year. This is the only year in which 
any large addition has been reported. 

West Aurora. — This church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Buffalo, Feb. 9th, 1819. In 1828 it numbered 
seventy-five members; in 1832, one hundred and twenty-six; in 
1836, one hundred and forty-eight ; and in 1846, one hundred and 
twenty. The installation of Mr. Ingalls as pastor of this church in 
connexion with that of East Aurora and his dismission have been 
already mentioned, as also the installation of Mr. Dutton. His 
dismissal from the pastoral charge of this church took place, Sept. 
6th, 1827. After the dismission of Mr. Dutton, for several years 
the church was reported vacant. Rev. Peter Kimball was installed 
as pastor, Feb. 18th, 1835, and was dismissed, Sept. 1st, the same 
year. As stated supplies at different periods, Rev. George Coan, 



PRESBYTERY OF BUFFALO. 



527 



Rev. Justin Marsh, Rev. Roswell G. Murray, Rev. Levi A. Skin- 
ner, and, probably, others have officiated. Jn several years con- 
siderable numbers have been reported as added to the chuich by a 
profession of faith in Christ. These additions, it is believed, were 
the result of outpourings of the Holy Spirit in his converting influ- 
ences on the congregation. In the support of Messrs. Coan and 
Marsh the church was aided by the American Home Missionary 
Society. 

Hamburgh. — This church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Geneva, Feb. 12th, 1817, and was transferred to the 
Presbytery of Buffalo on the organization of that body. Tn 1825, 
it numbered sixteen members ; in J 832, forty-two ; in 1836, ninety- 
eight ; and in 1843, fifty-nine. This is the last enumeration which 
the author has seen. The church has never had a regularly 
installed pastor. As stated supplies under the patronage of the 
American Home Missionary Society, Rev. Messrs. Eliphalet M. 
Spencer, John T. Baldwin, Lemuel Hall, Samuel Sessions, Patrick 
W. Gray, and John Scott, have officiated at different times. In 
1836, fifty-one members were reported as having been received 
the preceding year by profession, the result of a blessed revival 
enjoyed in the place. Since that period the church has been much 
diminished in consequence of emigration. 

Evans. — The author supposes that this church, by the name of 
Eden, was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, 
July 7th, 1818. In 1825 it was reported as consisting of fifty- 
eight members ; in 1832, one hundred and twenty ; and in 1834, 
one hundred and thirty-three. Since the last-named year the name 
of this church is not found in the Presbyterial reports. The writer 
supposes that it is not now in connexion with the Presbytery. Rev. 
Samuel Leonard was installed pastor of this church, Sept. 11th, 
1823, and continued to officiate in that capacity till Jan. 27th, 1830, 
when the relation was dissolved. Rev. William Beardsley, Rev. 
Abiel Parmele, and Rev. Seymour Thompson, have been reported 
as stated supplies to this church, at different times. From 1825 to 
1831, this church appears to have made no increase in numbers. 
In that year a revival was enjoyed, as the result of which fifty-five 
members on profession were added to the church. In 1834, twenty- 
four were reported as thus added the preceding year. On the 
reports of the American Home Missionary Society, the author finds 
that churches named Evans, East Evans, and Evans Central Con- 
gregational Church, have been aided by that Society. Whether 
these are three distinct churches or otherwise, he has not ascer- 
tained. 

Eden. — This church was received under the care of the Presby- 



528 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



tery of Buffalo, Feb. 8th, 1820. In 1825 the number of members 
was thirty-four ; in 1830, sixty-three ; in 1843, ninety- five ; and in 
1846, seventy-seven. The following ministers have labored with 
this church in the capacity of stated supplies, under the patronage 
of the American Home Missionary Society, viz. Daniel Washburn, 
George Coan, Samuel Perry, Ludovicus Robbins, Samuel Sessions, 
J. M. Sadd, Samuel Rawson, and S. Northrop. Several periods of 
revival have been experienced in this church, the results of which 
have been the enlargement of the church in some measure. 

Boston. — This church was received under the care of the Pres- 
bytery of Buffalo on the accommodating plan, June 28th, 1835. In 
1837, it reported forty-six members, having received, on profession, 
fifteen the year preceding. This is the only report of numbers 
which the writer has seen. In 1846, the church was not reported 
by the Presbytery. Rev. Messrs. Eliphalet M. Spencer, Thomp- 
son S. Harris, Abiel Parmele, William Waith, and Ward Ch Ids, 
have severally labored here as stated supplies, under the patronage 
of the American Home Missionary Society. This church has an 
appropriate house of worship, which was erected in 1836. 

Golden. — The name of this church as connected with the 
Presbytery of Buffalo, is first found in the Presbyterial Report for 
1832. It then numbered thirty-one members. In 1843, it had 
increased to sixty-five. It has never had a regularly installed 
pastor, but as stated supplies under the patronage of the American 
Home Missionary Society, Rev. Thompson S. Harris, Rev. Abiel 
Parmele, Rev. Edmund Ingalls, and Rev. Charles Kenmore, have 
severally been employed. The church has experienced a gradual 
increase in the number of its members, but no extended revival has 
been reported. 

Holland. — This church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Buffalo, Feb. 13th, 1821. In 1825 it numbered 
fifteen members ; in 1827, ten; and in 1833, nineteen. This is the 
last enumeration which the writer has seen. The church has not 
been reported by the Presbytery since 1837. Nineteen is the highest 
number of members ever reported. To some extent, by the 
assistance of the American Home Missionary Society, the church 
hasenjoyed the ministry of Rev. Messrs. Eliphalet B. Colman, William 
Bridgeman, Philo Canfield, Edmund Ingalls, and Charles Kenmore. 

Concord. — A church by this name was received under the care 
of the Presbytery of Buffalo, July 7th, 1818, and the Second Church 
of Concord was received, Feb. 13th, 1821. In the report of the 
Presbytery to the General Assembly for 1825, the church of 
Concord is named, but no mention is made of a second church of 



PRESBYTERY OF BUFFALO. 



529 



Concord, nor does the writer find any further notice of it. The 
church of Concord, in 1825, reported twenty-four members ; in 
1830, fifty-nine ; in 1836, eighty-five ; and in 1843, sixty-five. Pre- 
vious to 1839, Rev. E. M. Spencer, Rev. S. H. Gridley, Rev. 
William J. Wilcox, and Rev. Abiel Parmele, had officiated as stated 
supplies. Rev. Amos P. Hawley was ordained and installed as 
pastor, Jan. 30th, 1837. He was dismissed from his pastoral 
charge, July 28th, 1840. In 1843, Rev. Edmund Ingalls was 
reported as stated supply, and in 1846, the church is reported vacant. 
In 1833, twenty-one members were reported as having been 
added by profession the year preceding. 

Springville. — This is the name of a considerable village in the 
southern part of the town of Concord. The church in this place 
seems to have been identified with the church of Concord, till 
about the period of 1842. In 1843, it is reported as containing 
two hundred and forty-six members. Rev. Zechariah Eddy was 
installed pastor of this church, March 1st, 1842. The church has 
an appropriate house of worship. The Methodist and Baptist 
churches have each a house of worship in the village. 

Collins. — The author finds no record on the minutes of the Pres- 
bytery of Buffalo of this church, unless it is the same church which 
was received Feb. 13th, 1821, as Concord Second Church. It was 
reported by the Presbytery in 1825, as a vacant church under their 
care : in 1826, as consisting of thirteen members ; in 1827, of eight- 
een ; and in 1833, of thirty. This is the last enumeration which 
the author has seen. In 1836, it was not reported. As missionaries 
of the American Home Missionary Society, Rev. Lot B. Sullivan, 
Rev. Hiram Smith, Rev. Abiel C. Ward, Rev. Samuel Perry, Rev. 

Hibbard, and Rev. Oren Catlin, have ministered to this church. 

It has, however, for a large portion of the time been reported 
vacant. It does not appear that there has ever been any consider- 
able revival in this church. 

Hanover. — This church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Buffalo, Feb. 12th, 1822. It was reported by the 
Presbytery from year to year as vacant, till 1830, when it was re- 
ported for the last time. Fifteen was the only number of mem- 
bers ever reported as belonging to it. 

Forrestville. — This is a village in the town of Hanover. The 
church of Forrestville is first mentioned in the statistical report of 
the Presbytery for 1830. The author supposes that it was a re- 
organization of the original church of Hanover, and the church 
which was by that name received under the care of the Presby- 
tery of Buffalo, Jan. 26th, 1830, as from that period the church 
of Forrestville is reported in the annual reports of the Presbytery, 

34 



530 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



and no one by the name of Hanover is found. The church, in 
1830, consisted of twelve members, and in 1833, of thirty-nine. 
This is the last time that the number has been reported. In 
January, 1838, it was declared to have become extinct. Rev. 
Abiel Parmele, Rev. Obadiah C. Beardsley, and Rev. J. A. Emery, 
labored here for a season as stated supplies, under the patronage of 
the American Home Missionary Society. 

Silver Creek. — The location of this church is in the town of 
Hanover. It was organized with thirteen members, by a commit- 
tee of the Presbytery of Buffalo, and received under the care of 
the Presbytery, Nov. 10th, 1831. It numbered, in 1832, nineteen 
members ; in 1837, one hundred and fifteen ; and, in 1843, one hun- 
dred and sixty-nine. In 1831, Rev. Abiel Parmele was stated sup- 
ply, previous to the organization of the church. He was followed 
by Rev. Obadiah C. Beardsley, who ministered to the church as stated 
supply, till Feb. 11th, 1840, at which period he was installed as 
pastor of the church. The relation was dissolved in 1846. The 
ministry of Mr. Beardsley seems to have been very prosperous. 
Very considerable additions were made to the church by profes- 
sion in several of the years of his ministry. The greatest number 
reported in any one year was forty-two. This was in 1834. 
Twenty-one were reported in 1837, and thirty-three in 1843. The 
American Home Missionary Society aided in the support of Mr. 
Parmele, and four years in the support of Mr. Beardsley. 

Sheridan. — This town was formerly a part of the town of Pom- 
fret, and the present church of Sheridan w^as originally known as 
Pomfret first church. It was received under the care of the Pres- 
bytery of Buffalo, Feb. 3d, 1818. In 1825, it numbered 
fifty-eight members ; in 1830, eighty-four ; and, in 1837, one hun- 
dred and five. Rev. Elihu Mason was employed as a stated sup- 
ply to this church three years, from January 8th, 1826. He was suc- 
ceeded in 1827, by Rev. Blackleach B.Gray, who was ordained and 
installed pastor of the church, May 12th, 1830, and dismissed, Oct. 
9th, 1833. Since the dismission of Mr. Gray, no pastor has been 
regularly installed, but as stated supplies, Rev. Messrs. Z. Eddy, 
Ebenezer Raymond, and Nathaniel S. Smith, have been employed. 
The church has been repeatedly blessed with the reviving influences 
of the Holy Spirit, and considerable accessions have been made to 
it as the result. In the year 1836, forty-six members were reported 
as having been added the preceding year by profession. In the sup- 
port of all the ministers which have been named, the church has 
been aided by the American Home Missionary Society. 

Dunkirk. — This village is situated in the town of Pomfret, on the 
shore of Lake Erie. The Presbyterian church of Dunkirk, consist- 



PRESBYTERY OF BUFFALO. 



531 



ling of ten members, was organized May 22d, 1830, and was re- 
ceived under the care of the Presbytery, Sept. 8th, of that year. 
In 1831 the church numbered twenty-three members; in 1834, 
seventy; in 1840, one hundred; and in 1846, sixty-seven. Soon 
after the organization of the church, Rev. Timothy Stillman, under 
the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, was em- 
ployed as a stated supply. In that capacity he continued till Nov. 
23d, 1836, when he was installed pastor of the church, and remained 
such till Sept. 5th, 1838, when the relation was dissolved. He was 
succeeded by Rev. James B. Shaw, who was ordained and installed 
June 26th, 1839, and was dismissed Jan. 26th, 1841. His succes- 
sor was Rev. C. L. Hequembourgh, who was ordained and installed 
pastor of the church, Oct. 27th, 1841, and was dismissed in 1846. 
In 1833, a pleasing revival was enjoyed, as the result of which, 
thirty-seven members were added by profession to the church. 
Another in 1836 brought in twenty-four members. This congre- 
gation is very circumscribed, being confined almost exclusively to 
the limits of the village. It has received aid several years from the 
American Home Missionary Society. The church has been greatly 
weakened by removals. It has an appropriate house of worship, 
which was built in 1834. There is a Methodist congregation in 
the village, which in 1S42 occupied the Academy as a place of 
worship, 

Fredonia. — This village is situated in the town of Pomfret. Its 
settlement was commenced about the year 1804, by emigrants from 
Paris, Oneida county, Sherburne, Chenango county, and Pennsylva- 
nia. Public worship was set up about the year 1806, by Presby- 
terians and Baptists. The present church of Fredonia was orga- 
nized by Rev. John Spencer, Sept. 29th, 1810, and was denominated 
the church of Pomfret. It consisted of seven males and five fe- 
males, who had most of them been members of churches in the 
county of Oneida. The church was organized a Congregational 
church, and it adopted the Presbyterian form of government Jam 
30th, 1817. The church was received under the care of the Pres- 
bytery of Geneva, Feb. 13th, 1817, and on the organization of the 
Presbytery of Buffalo, was transferred to that body. In 1825 it 
numbered forty-two members; in 1828, one hundred and one ; in 
1840, three hundred and forty-eight ; and in 1846, two hundred 
and four. The church has enjoyed the labors of the following pas- 
tors: Rev. Samuel Sweezy, installed March 13th, 1817, dismissed 
July 7th, 1819 ; Rev. William Page, ordained and installed Sept 
10th, 1823, dismissed August 3d, 1826 ; Rev. William Bradley, 
ordained and installed Jan. 8th, 1834, and dismissed Nov. 9th, 1837; 
Rev. Sylvester Cowles, installed Feb. 20th, 1839, and dismissed 
June 2d, 1840; and Rev. Augustus Pomeroy. From the organi- 
sation of the church to the period of Mr. Sweezy's settlement, the 



532 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



church received very important ministerial aid from Rev. John 
Spencer, who resided in the vicinity, and was a standing missionary 
of the Connecticut Missionary Society. As stated supplies for a 
period of one year or more, Rev. James W. M'Master, Rev. Abiel 
Parmele, Rev. David D. Gregory, Rev. George R. Rudd, and Rev. 
Samuel M. Hopkins, have been employed. Others have served for 
shorter periods. This church has enjoyed many seasons of refresh- 
ing from the presence of the Lord. Under the ministry of Mr. 
Gregory, in 1831 and '32, there was a blessed effusion of the Holy 
Spirit upon the church and congregation, as the result of which, 
sixty-eight members were added to the church by profession. In 
1834, under the ministry of Mr. Bradley, another season of refresh- 
ing was enjoyed, and thirty-nine hopeful converts were united to 
the church. Another in 1837, brought an accession of twenty-nine 
members to the church ; and another in 1845, under the ministry of 
Mr. Pomeroy, added to the church twenty-three members. Other 
seasons of less note have been enjoyed. 

This church has been aided by the American Home Missionary 
Society for a period of five or six years. They have a house of 
worship, erected in 1836. It is constructed of brick, and is sixty- 
five feet in length, and fifty in breadth. The Baptist, Methodist, 
and Episcopal denominations have each a house of worship in the 
village, and all the denominations have stated weekly preaching in 
their respective houses. About one-third of the inhabitants of the 
village attend the Presbyterian church. Of the other denominations 
the Baptists are the most numerous. The Methodists and Episco- 
palians (High Church) are about equal in numbers. 

Villaneva. — The name of this church in the Statistical Reports 
of the Presbytery of Buffalo occurs for the first time in 1829. 
The next year the number of members reported was fourteen, and 
this is the only number ever mentioned in the annual reports. It 
has uniformly been reported from year to year as vacant ; but its 
name is still continued on the statistical reports of the Presbytery. 

Lodi. — This village is situated on Cattaraugus creek, which con- 
stitutes the dividing line between Cattaraugus and Erie counties. 
It lies partly in the town of Persia, and partly in the town of 
Collins. The first settler in this village was Turner Aldrich, who 
was a member of the denomination of Friends. He came in in 
1810. Public worship was first set up in 1827, by Joseph Plumb, 
and a few others. The church was organized in April, 1828. The 
number of male members at that time was thirteen. It was re- 
ceived under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, Sept. 4th, 
1827. In 1830, it contained sixteen members ; in 1837, one hun- 
dred and fifty ; and in 1846, one hundred and fifteen. Rev. Erastus 
J. Gillet officiated as stated supply one year from May, 1829 ; 



PRESBYTERY OF BUFFALO. 



533 



Rev. Thompson S. Harris, three years from June, 1830; and, 
Rev. John B. Preston succeeded for three years and a half. Mr. 
Preston was installed pastor of the church, June 28th, 1836, and 
was dismissed, June 26th, 1839. He was followed by Rev. Mr. 
Cochrane for six months, and by Rev. Sylvester Cowles for three 
years. Rev. Levi A. Skinner commenced as stated supply in 
December, 1823, and was still officiating in the latter part of 1846. 
This church has enjoyed two extensive revivals of religion, which 
added considerably to the numbers and strength of the church. 
They have been aided by the American Home Missionary Society 
in the support of most of their ministers. The Society erected a 
house of worship which was finished in 1835, and consumed by 
fire, Feb. 13th, 1842. They have erected another on the same 
foundation, which is fifty-two feet in length, and forty in breadth, 
and it was nearly finished in November, 1846. The house of wor- 
ship stands in the town of Collins, in the county of Erie ; the 
village post-office in the town of Persia, in the county of Cattarau- 
gus. The church was considerably weakened some years since 
by the withdrawal of some of its members, who resided from four 
to six miles from the village, to form a Congregational church. 
This church has not prospered. It has no appropriate house of 
worship, and enjoys the preaching of the gospel but a small part 
of the time. The Methodist denomination have a house of wor- 
ship in the village of Lodi. It is estimated that nearly one half of 
the inhabitants of the village attend worship with the Presbyterian 
church. 

West Otto. — The settlement of this town was commenced by 
Joseph Adams, from Madison county, in 1810. The first Presby- 
terian minister that ever preached a sermon in this town was a 
Mr. Dunning (the author supposes Rev. Ira Dunning). Public 
worship was first set up in a stated manner in 1828, and the church, 
consisting of eleven members, was organized by Rev. William J. 
Willcox, Oct. 18th, 1828. The members were emigrants from dif- 
ferent places. The number of members has very gradually in- 
creased, so that in 1846 it amounted to forty-six. Rev. William J. 
Willcox was stated supply for one half of the time, for more than 
one year from April, 1833, and was standing moderator, in the 
absence of stated supplies, from the time of its organization till 
1835. His labors with the church were very useful. Rev. Daniel 
T. Coude, now a missionary at the Sandwich Islands, was stated 
supply to this church, and that of East Otto, one year from Octo- . 
ber, 1835. He was succeeded by Rev. Sylvester Cowles, who 
supplied till 1839. Rev. Miles Doolittle was his successor, and 
supplied the two churches three years. His successor was Rev. 
Aaron Van Wormer, who supplied both churches one year. Rev. 
Miles Doolittle returned in 1845, and supplied a part of the time 



534 



WESTERN NEW YORK* 



for a period of between one and two years. In 1834, twelve mem- 
bers were reported as having been added the preceding year by 
profession. This is the greatest number ever reported as having 
been added in any one year. 

East Otto.~ This church was organized with nineteen members, 
in February, 1834, by Rev. Messrs. Willcox and Parmele. It 
was organized a Congregational church, and was received under 
the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, on the accommodating plan y 
Sept. 2d, 1834. In 1846, it contained forty-two members. It has 
generally been connected with W est Otto in the enjoyment of the 
labors of a minister, and in their united capacity they have been 
dependent on the aid of the American Home Missionary Society. 

Askford. — This church w T as received under the care of the Pres- 
bytery of Buffalo, September 4th, 1832. It had then recently been 
organized. The next spring it was reported as consisting of four- 
teen members, and no report of numbers has been made since that 
period. It has uniformly been reported vacant. 

Franhlinville.— This church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Angelica, February 23d, 1830, and by an act of the 
Synod of Geneva was transferred to the Presbytery of Buffalo,. 
October 9th, 1838. In 1831, it consisted of thirty-one members; 
in 1834, of one hundred ; and in 1843, of two hundred and sixty-six. 
This is the last enumeration that the author has seen. Rev. John 
T. Baldwin labored in this place and Olean, under the patronage 
of the American Home Missionary Society in 1828 and 1829, dur- 
ing which period the church of Franklinville was organized, con- 
sisting of between twenty and thirty members. After a short 
interval Mr. Baldwin again commenced his labors with this church ? 
and supplied one half of the time till May, 1836. He was succeeded 
by Rev. Wm. Houden, who supplied one year. In 1839, Rev. 
Cornelius W. Gillam was ordained and installed pastor of the 
church. He appears to have left the church in 1842, though the 
writer finds no record of his dismission. By whom the church has 
been supplied since his departure is not known to the author. In 
the support of all the ministers who have been named the church 
has been aided by the American Home Missionary Society. This 
church has enjoyed several seasons of enlargement, but the most 
remarkable was in 1843, when one hundred and twenty-four mem- 
bers were reported as having been added to the church by profes- 
sion. This church has an appropriate house of worship. 

EllicoUville. — This church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Buffalo, September 10th, 1822. From 1831 to 1837 
inclusive, it is reported as under the care of the Presbytery of An- 



PRESBYTERY OF BUFFALO. 



535 



gelica ; but since that period it is again reported as under the care 
of the Presbytery of Buffalo. In 1825, it contained twenty-one 
members ; in 1827, only thirteen ; in 1830, fifteen ; in 1836, seventy- 
five ; in 1843, one hundred and sixty-eight; and in 1846, one hun- 
dred and sixteen. Till 1831 it was uniformly reported vacant. 
From that period Rev. John T. Baldwin was stated supply one 
half of the time for two years. Near the close of 1834, Rev. Syl- 
vester Cowles commenced laboring as a stated supply, and con- 
tinued about four years, spending a part of the time with the church 
of Waverley. Rev Mead Holmes was ordained and installed pastor 
of the church, June 23d, 1841, and sustained that relation till Sept. 
6th, 1843, when the relation was dissolved. At the commencement 
of 1844, Rev. S. Cowles again was employed as a stated supply, 
and continued in that capacity at the last information. In the sup- 
port of all these ministers the church has been aided by the Ameri- 
can Home Missionary Society. It has an appropriate house of 
worship. 

Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church. — This church, recently 
organized, was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buf- 
falo, Sept. 6th, 1842. The next spring it was reported as consist- 
ing of twenty-three members. In 1845, it had increased to one 
hundred and forty members. Rev. William Waith was employed 
as stated supply, under the patronage of the American Home Mis- 
sionary Society, in 1844. He reported that the church had com- 
pleted a house of worship, and did not need the further aid of the 
Society. Whether the great increase of the church was the result 
of an effusion of the Holy Spirit, or of other causes, the writer is 
not informed. 

Charlotte. — This church, consisting of thirty members, was or- 
ganized, July 22d, 1831, and received under the care of the Pres- 
bytery of Buffalo, Sept. 6th of the same year. In 1832, it reported 
thirty-four members ; and in 1840, seventy. Since that date the name 
of the church is not found in the Statistical Reports of the Presby- 
tery. In 1832, Rev. Obadiah C. Beardsley officiated as stated 
supply under the patronage of the American Home Missionary 
Society. During his ministry he reported a revival of religion, 
and about thirty hopeful converts. He was succeeded by Rev. J. 
S. Emery for two years. The church then appears to have been 
vacant for several years. Rev. Charles Danforth officiated as 
stated supply to this church in connexion with Stockton in 1840 
and '41, and was succeeded by Rev. Edwin Hoyt in August, 1841. 
He continued one year. This is the latest information which the 
writer has obtained. 

Stockton. — The author supposes that this is the church that was 



536 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, Feb. 13tb, 
1821, by the name of Gerry and Chautauque, and which afterwards 
was reported by the name of Stockton and Gerry till 1833, at which 
period it took the name of Stockton, and by that name was report- 
ed till 1840, since which period its name has been omitted in the 
Statistical Reports of the Presbytery. In 1827, it numbered twen- 
ty-eight members ; in 1832, forty ; and in 1841, forty-nine. This 
is the highest number ever reported. Rev. Hugh Wallis officiated 
as stated supply one year from April, 1827. Rev. Obadiah C. 
Beardsley supplied one year from April, 1831. Rev. Zenas Bliss, 
Rev. J. B. Wilson, Rev. Charles Danforth, and Rev. Edwin Hoyt 
have severally officiated as stated supplies, and acted under com- 
missions from the American Home Missionary Society. Whether 
the church has seceded from the Presbyterian connexion, or has- 
become extinct, the author is not informed. 

Chautauque. — A church by this name was received under the 
care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, July 7th, 1818. In 1825, it con- 
sisted of eighteen members. The year 1826 is the last in which the 
name is found in the Statistical Reports of the Presbytery. 

Portland. — The town of Portland originally comprised the 
north-western part of the county of Chautauque, embracing what 
are now the towns of Portland, Westfield, and Ripley. The set- 
tlement of the present town of Portland was commenced in 1805 
by James Dunn. He was followed the next year by Nathan Fay ? 
Elisha Fay, Nathaniel Fay, and Peter Kane, and in 1806, by John 
Price and others. Rev. John Spencer preached the first sermon 
ever delivered in the town in 1806. After his removal into the 
town of Sheridan, he visited Portland as a missionary, and preach- 
ed several times annually till 1824. A Congregational church was 
organized in 1817, consisting of fifteen or twenty members, some 
of whom resided in that part of the town which is now Westfield. 
This church was received under the care of the Presbytery of 
Buffalo, July 7th, 1818. In 1825, the church numbered thirty-eight 
members. In 1820 and '21, Rev. Phinehas Camp, of Westfield, 
preached in Portland one third part of the time. With this excep- 
tion very little ministerial aid for a number of years, besides what 
was afforded by Mr. Spencer, was enjoyed. Some of the members 
of the church who lived contiguous to Westfield, attended worship 
with the church in that town. The church of Portland declined, 
and finally became extinct. 

In 1833, an effort was made to resuscitate the church, and the 
present Congregational church of Portland was organized, March 
10th of that year, by Rev. David D. Gregory and Rev. Timothy 
Stillman, a committee of the Presbytery. This church consisted 
of sixteen members, of whom seven were taken from the church of 



PRESBYTERY OF BUFFALO. 



537 



Westfield, four from Fredonia, two from the original church of 
Portland, and three were new members. The church thus orga- 
nized was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, 
September 3d, 1833. In 1834, it numbered thirty members, and 
in 1836, eighty. As stated supplies for short seasons previous to 
1841, Rev. Alfred W. Gray, Rev. Calvin Gray, and Rev. William 
J. Willcox, were employed. Rev. Alfred W. Gray a second time 
commenced laboring with the church in August, 1841, and was 
installed pastor in October, 1842, which relation he held till August, 
1845. Rev. N. H. Barnes succeeded him as stated supply for a 
short season. In July, 1846, Rev. Lewis F. Laine commenced 
labor as a stated supply, and still continues. In the support of 
these ministers the church has been aided by the American Home 
Missionary Society. No extensive revivals have been enjoyed 
by this church, though two or three seasons of more than ordinary 
interest have occurred, during which some souls have been hopefully- 
converted to God. The prospects of the church have been in 
limes past peculiarly discouraging, but the members have held on, 
and continued to supplicate tire throne of grace, and God has 
strengthened them, and for a time past the prospect has been more 
cheering. In 1842, the Society erected a house of worship at an 
expense of 81,600, which is forty-four feet in length, and thirty-six 
in breadth. There is a good attendance on public worship upon 
the Sabbath, and an apparently good influence upon the community 
exerted by the church. In the town of Portland are two Baptist 
churches, one Episcopal Methodist, and one Wesleyan Methodist, 
besides some Universalists. 

Westfield. — This church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Buffalo, September 11th, 1822. It contained, in 
1825, fifty-six members ; in 1832, one hundred and five ; in 1840, 
three hundred and one ; and in 1846, two hundred and ninety-five. 
At what period the church was organized is not known to the 
writer. In 1820 and 1821, Rev. Phinehas Camp preached in 
Westfield two-thirds of the time, probably as a stated supply. 
Rev. Isaac Oakes was installed pastor of the church, August 11th, 
1824, and continued in that relation till Jan. -27th, 1831, when it 
was dissolved. In 1832, Rev. Jedidiah C. Parmele was reported 
as stated supply. June 11th, 1834, Rev. David D. Gregory was 
installed pastor of the church. He was dismissed, Sept. 3d, 18 3 9. 
His successor was Rev. Timothy M. Hopkins, who was installed 
into the pastorate June 2d, 1840. Mr. Hopkins has since been dis- 
missed, and Rev. Reuben Tinker, formerly of the Sandwich Islands 
mission, inducted into the pastoral office. This church has been 
signally blessed with the effusions of the Holy Spirit. In 1832, 
twenty members by profession were reported as having been re- 
ceived to the communion of the church the preceding year ; in 



538 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



1834, one hundred, and in 1837, fifty-seven. The church received 
aid from the Home Missionary Society in the support of Mr. 
Oakes, three years. They had previously been aided to some ex- 
tent by the United Domestic Missionary Society. They have an 
appropriate house of worship in the village of Westfield. There 
is also an Episcopal and a Methodist house of worship in the 
village. 

Ripley. — At what period this church was organized is not known 
to the writer. In 1821, it was under the care of the Presbytery of 
Erie in connexion with the Synod of Pittsburgh. It was received 
by transfer under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, Sept. 7th, 
1830. In 1823, it reported forty-four members; in 1832, one hun- 
dred and eighty-one ; and in 1843, two hundred and thirty-one. 
This is the last report which the author has seen. It appears from 
the Minutes of the General Assembly that this church was con- 
nected with the adjoining church of North-East in the State of 
Pennsylvania in the enjoyment of the Christian ministry, and that 
Rev. Giles Doolittle was for several years pastor of the united 
churches. As pastor he is reported for the last time in 1829. As 
stated supplies at different periods, Rev. Messrs. Erastus J. Gillett, 
David D. Gregory, John B. Preston, Thompson S. Harris, and 
Samuel G. Orton, have been employed. In 1846, Mr. Orton was 
reported as pastor. In 1832, ninety-four members were reported 
as having been added by profession the preceding year, indicating 
that the church had been abundantly blessed with the effusion of 
the Holy Spirit during that year. The church was aided by the 
American Home Missionary Society in the support of Messrs. Gill- 
lett, Gregory, and Preston. It has an appropriate house of wor- 
ship located in the village of Quincy. The Baptist church has 
also a house of worship in the same village. 

Mayville. — This village, situated in the town of Chautauque, at 
the north end of Chautauque lake, is the seat of justice for the 
county of Chautauque. The church of Mayville was received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, Sept. 14th, 1824. 
In 1826, it numbered twenty-three members ; in 1832, sixty-nine ; 
in 1836, ninety-eight ; and in 1840, fifty-nine. This is the last 
enumeration that the author has seen. As stated supplies to this, 
often in connexion with another church, and in every instance 
under the patronage of the American Plome Missionary Society, 
the following ministers have officiated in this church, viz. Rodol- 
phus Landfer, Isaac Jones, Ebenezer H. Stratton, Milo N. Miles, 
Edmund Ingalls, Alexander Montgomery, John Scott, Ebenezer 
Colman, and Miles Doolittle. Mr. Miles was installed pastor of the 
church, Feb. 16th, 1836, and was dismissed, Feb. 2d, 1837. Mr. 
Montgomery was installed as pastor, August, 1840, and the relation 



PRESBYTERY OF BUFFALO. 



539 



was dissolved, Oct. 13th, 1842. This church had a house of wor- 
ship which was erected in 1830, and consumed by fire in 1846. 
Whether another has been erected in its stead, the author is not 
informed. Three other houses of worship have been erected in 
the village, but the author is not informed to what denominations 
they belong. 

Ellery. — The name of this church is first found in the report of 
the Presbytery of Buffalo for 1825, and is continued til] 1834, when 
it was reported as consisting of twelve members. Fourteen is the 
highest number ever reported. By an act of the Presbytery it 
was merged in the Presbyterian church of Jamestown, Sept. 7th, 
1836. 

Ellington. — This church, recently organized, was received under 
the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, Sept. 2d, 1828. There is 
no report of the number of its members till 1832. The number at 
that period was only fifteen. The next report is for 1846, and the 
number of members one hundred and three. With the exception 
of Rev. Abel C. Ward, for one year in 1833 and 1834, the church 
appears never to have enjoyed the stated ministrations of gospel 
ordinances till 1848. Rev. William Waith then supplied for one 
year. In 1843, he again supplied this church in connexion 
with Rutledge, one year. Again in May, 1845, he commenced 
laboring with this church, and in 1846, was reported its pastor. In 
1839, the church was dismissed from its connexion with the Pres- 
bytery of Buffalo, to unite with the Western Association of New 
York. It seems, however, to have returned to its original connex- 
ion, as it is reported in 1846 as under the care of the Presbytery. 
What revivals, if any, have been enjoyed, is not known to the 
writer, nor whether the church has an appropriate house of wor- 
ship. It has the aid of the American Home Missionary Society. 

Connewango. — The author supposes that this is the church 
which has its location in the village of Rutledge in the town of 
Connewango. It was originally denominated the Second Church of 
Little Valley, and by that name was received under the care of 
the Presbytery of Buffalo, Jan. 29th, 1823. In 1826, it consisted 
of fourteen members : in 1832, twenty ; and in 1836, sixty- five. 
Since that period the number has not been reported. For about 
ten years after the organization of the church, the number of mem- 
bers did not at any time exceed twenty, and the church was annually 
reported vacant. Since that period it has at times been supplied in 
part, and latterly the whole of the time. Rev. Abel C. Ward, Rev. 
Miles Doolittle, Rev. William Waith, Rev. R. Willoughby, and 
Rev. Louis S. Morgan, have officiated as stated supplies under the 
patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. The last. 



540 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



in 1846, was reported as pastor. The church has an appropriate 
house of worship, which was erected in 1842, but not finished for 
several years. 

Napoli. — This town was formerly a part of the tow r n of Little 
Valley, afterwards of Cold Spring, subsequently Napoli. The 
church has been known by all of these names. It was received as 
the Church of Little Valley, under the care of the Presbytery of 
Buffalo, Feb. 13th, 1821. It was dismissed to unite with the West- 
ern Association of New York, Jan. 28th, 1840, and received again 
under the care of the Presbytery, Sept. 5th, 1843. In 1825, it 
numbered twenty-one members ; in 1828, sixty ; and in 1834, one 
hundred and seven. This is the last enumeration which the author 
has seen. Rev. William J. Willcox was installed pastor of the 
church, June 20th, 1827, and the relation was dissolved, Nov. 10th, 
1831. Rev. Ira Dunning was his successor, and was installed 
pastor, June 2d, 1824, and dismissed, Oct. 13th, 1825. Since the 
dismission of Mr. Dunning, Rev. Messrs. Sylvester Cowles, Justin 
Marsh, William Waith, Abner D. Olds, William Goodale, and H. 
A. Taylor, have severally officiated as stated supplies. In the sup- 
port of all these ministers, the church has been aided by the 
American Home Missionary Society. In 1834, Mr. Cowles re- 
ported an interesting revival of religion, as the result of which 
thirty-one members were added to the church on a profession of 
faith. In 1832, twenty-six members were reported as having been 
thus added the preceding year. The church has an appropriate 
house of worship, which was completed in 1834. 

Great Valley. — The Presbyterian Church of Great Valley was 
received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, Sept. 6th, 
1842. In 1843, it consisted of forty members. Rev. Israel C. 
Holmes officiated here as stated supply, under the patronage of the 
American Home Missionary Society, from April, 1841, five years 
the greater part of the time. In 1842, the Society were engaged 
in erecting a house of worship. 

Randolph. — This church was organized as a Congregational 
Church by a committee of the Presbytery of Buffalo, Jan. 7th, 
1836, and received under the care of the Presbytery on the twen- 
ty-sixth day of the same month. At its organization it was com- 
posed of fourteen members. This is the only enumeration which 
the author has seen. Rev. Justin Marsh officiated one year as 
stated supply, in 1835 and 1836, and Rev. Z. Eddy in 1840. The 
American Home Missionary Society aided in their support. The 
church has not been reported by the Presbytery since 1840. The 
reason is not known to the writer. 



PRESBYTERY OF BUFFALO. 541 

Waterboro\ — This village is situated in the town of Poland, 
adjacent to the town of Randolph. The church of Waterboro' was 
organized in 1828, and received under the care of the Presbytery 
of Buffalo, Sept. 2d of that year. In 1830, it was composed of 
twelve members, and in 1832, of twenty-four, having received 
eight the preceding year on profession. In 1836, it was merged 
in the church of Randolph when that church was organized. 
During its separate existence it was uniformly reported vacant. 

Ellicott. — This church was received under the care of the Pres- 
bytery of Buffalo, July 7th, 1818. In 1825, it was reported as con- 
sisting of seventeen members. This is the last time that its name 
is found in the reports of the Presbytery. Whether it withdrew 
from its connexion with the Presbytery, or became extinct, is not 
known to the writer. 

Jamestown. — This village is located in the town of Ellicott, and 
is the most populous village in the county of Chautauque. A 
church was formed here at an early day, and it was received under 
the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, July 7th, 1818. In 1826, it 
numbered forty-five members, twenty of whom had been received 
the year preceding. In 1832, its number was one hundred and 
twenty-seven; and in 1840, two hundred and twenty-four. This 
is the latest enumeration that the author has seen. Rev. Isaac 
Eddy was installed as pastor of the church, June 14th, 1826. The 
dissolution of the relation occurred, Sept. 7th, 1830. He was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. Erastus J. Gillett, who was reported as stated 
supply in 1831, and installed as pastor in the latter part of the 
year 1832, or near the commencement of the succeeding year. 
He was dismissed, June 11th, 1834. 

About the period last mentioned the church appears to have 
been divided on the principle of church government. The author 
supposes that the original church was organized on Congregational 
principles, and united with the Presbytery on the accommodating 
plan. On the minutes of the Presbytery, under date of June 11th, 
1834, a record is made of the reception of the Presbyterian church 
of Jamestown, lately formed. The writer supposes that the ori- 
ginal church left its connexion with the Presbytery to unite with 
some other organization, as but one church of Jamestown is named 
in the subsequent reports of the Presbytery. If this is correct, the 
report of two hundred and twenty-four members in 1840 has 
reference to the Presbyterian church. Rev. Erastus J. Gillett was 
installed pastor of this church, Sept. 3d, 1835, and the relation was 
dissolved, Jan. 31st, 1837. He seems not long afterwards to have 
been engaged as stated supply, and in 1846 to be still employed in 
that capacity. This place has been repeatedly visited with the 
effusions of the Divine Spirit in his quickening and converting 



542 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



influences, and many souls have been hopefully born into the king- 
dom of God. In the support of Mr. Eddy the church was aided 
by the American Home Missionary Society. In the village of 
Jamestown, there is one Presbyterian, one Congregational, one 
Baptist, and one Methodist house of worship. 

Ashville. — This village is located in the town of Harmony, near 
Chautauque lake. The name of the church first appears in the 
report of the Presbytery for 1826. The author finds no record of 
its reception, unless it is identified with one of the churches of 
Harmony. In February, 1822, two churches, named Harmony 
First and Harmony Second, were received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Buffalo. Their names are found in the reports of 
the Presbytery for 1825 and 1826, but do not occur afterwards, 
nor is any further record respecting them to be found. The church 
of Ashville may be a continuation of one of those churches. In 
1827, it consisted of eighteen members ; in 1832, of sixty-five ; and 
in 1836, of fifty-two. This is the latest enumeration of which the 
writer has any knowledge. Rev. Samuel Leonard, Rev. Edmund 
Ingalls, and Rev. Spencer Baker, have supplied here, under the 
patronage of the American Home Missionary Society ; but the 
church has generally been vacant. It was dismissed from its rela- 
tion to the Presbytery, June 26th, 1839, to connect itself with the 
Association of Western New York. 

Mina. — This church was received under the care of the Pres- 
bytery of Buffalo, Sept. 4th, 1827. The first report of members 
which the author finds is for the year 1831. It then numbered 
thirty-nine members, and in 1834, fifty-two. After this date its 
name is not found in the reports of the Presbytery. Rev. Justin 
Marsh was pastor of this church at the time it was received under 
the care of the Presbytery, and so continued till Sept. 6th, 1831, 
when his dismission took place. He was sustained by the aid of 
the American Home Missionary Society, the funds being furnished 
by the church of Farmington in Connecticut, from which the mem- 
bers of the church in Mina emigrated. With the late history of 
this church the author is not acquainted. 

Panama. — This church has its location in the town of Harmony. 
It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, Sept, 
3d, 1833. There is no report at any period of the number of its 
members. As stated supplies, by the aid of the American Home 
Missionary Society, Rev. Alfred W.Gray, Rev. Aaron Van Wormer, 
and Rev. Abner D. Olds, have labored here. The church has a 
house of worship erected in 1846. 

Busti. — The name of this church is first found in the statistical 



PRESBYTERY OF BUFFALO. 



543 



report of the Presbytery of Buffalo for 1826. It was continued till 
1834, when it appears for the last time. The number of members 
reported varies from fifteen to twenty-nine. The last report in 1834 
was twenty. As stated supplies, by the aid of the x\merican Home 
Missionary Society, Rev. Messrs. Samuel Leonard, Isaac Eddy, 
Spencer Baker, and Louis S. Morgan, have labored here. 

Carroll. — The church at this place was originally denominated 
the church of Jones's Settlement. It was first reported by the 
Presbytery in 1826, as a church under their care, and in 1834, it 
is reported for the last time. The number of members has varied 
from fifteen to thirty. The greater part of the time it has been 
reported as vacant. It has been fostered to some extent by the 
American Home Missionary Society. Under the patronage of 
that Society Rev. Samuel Leonard, Rev. Isaac Eddy, and Rev. J. 
S. Emery have labored in this place. What has been the state of 
the church for a number of years past., is not known to the writer. 



544 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

Presbytery of Genesee : — Byron, Elba, Oakfleld, Alabama, Pembroke, Batavia, Staf- 
ford, Le Roy, Caledonia, Pavilion, East Bethany, Bethany Centre, Alexander, Union 
Church of Alexander and Darien, Darien, Darien Village, Bennington, Bennington 
Second, Attica, Attica Centre, Wyoming, Covington, Perry First, Perry Second, 
Perry Village, Warsaw, Orangeville, Varysburgh, Sheldon First, Sheldon Second 
or Strykersville, Java, Weathersfield Springs, Weathersfleld, Gainesville, Carlisle, 
Pike, China. 

THE PRESBYTERY OF GENESEE 

Will next claim our attention. Beginning at the north-eastern 
angle, we commence with the church of 

Byron. — This town was formerly a part of the town of Bergen, 
from which it was separated in 1820. The settlement of the town 
commenced about the year 1808. A Congregational church was or- 
ganized, Nov. 20th, 1818, by Rev. Herman Halsey, consisting of 
eleven members. The church had its first location in the town of 
Batavia (now Stafford), and, in 1823, was removed to the centre 
of Byron, where it has continued. In 1824, the church became 
connected with the Genesee Consociation ; but on the ninth day of 
February, 1831, became connected with the Presbytery of Gene- 
see, on the accommodating plan. In September, 1845, it adopted 
the Presbyterian form of government, with a rotary session. At 
the commencement of 1830, the church consisted of only twenty- 
seven members. In 1831, it was increased to one hundred and 
sixty-two, and, in 1846, to one hundred and eighty-six. Rev. Her- 
man Halsey supplied this church for one half of the time, with the 
exception of one year, from July, 1819, till the spring of 1826. 
He was succeeded for one year, by Rev. William P. Kendrick, and 
he, for one, by Rev. Lot B. Sullivan. Rev. Lewis Cheeseman com- 
menced ministerial labor with this church, in January, 1830, and 
continued till April, 1831. Rev. Herbert A. Reed was stated sup- 
ply from October, 1831, to April, 1833. He was succeeded by 
Rev. Blackleach B. Gray, who continued about three years and six 
months. Rev. Avelyn Sedgwick was the next in succession, and 
continued one year. He was followed by Rev. Eber Child, whose 
labors were extended through four years. Rev. Francis Danforth 
succeeded him for one year. Rev. John B. Preston commenced 
labor as a stated supply, in September, 1844, and was installed pas- 
tor of the church, March 4th, 1846. The church has been sup- 
plied by other ministers occasionally, particularly by Rev. Josiah 



PRESBYTERY OF GENESEE. 



545 



Pierson, of Bergen. Under the ministry of Mr. Cheeseman, a 
blessed revival of religion was enjoyed, which added to the church 
more than one hundred members. In April, 1834, the church held 
a protracted meeting, in which Mr. Gray was assisted by Rev. 
Samuel G. Orton. The feelings and spirit produced by that effort 
continued for several months, and large accessions were made to 
the church. Again, in 1841, the church enjoyed, for a season, the 
labors of the same beloved servant of Christ, and more than sixty 
members were added to the church in one day. Sixteen new 
family altars were erected. 

The church has been aided by the American Home Missionary 
Society two years, to the amount of $50 each year. They have 
a house of worship, fifty-three feet in length by forty in breadth, 
which was erected in 1830. They have a commodious parsonage, 
consisting of one acre of land, with appropriate buildings, which 
was purchased in 1832. The circumstances of the church are pros- 
perous at the present time. It is estimated that about one sixth of the 
inhabitants of the town attend worship with this church. They are 
intermixed with other denominations. The Episcopal Methodists 
have a society, respectable for numbers and character, and a com- 
modious house of worship. The Free- Will Baptist church have a 
house of worship, of the same dimensions as the Presbyterian, but 
their society is feeble. These are all the religious organizations in 
the town. 

Elba. — Of this church the author knows very little. It was or- 
ganized a Congregational church, and was connected with the 
Genesee Consociation. From that body it was received by the 
Presbytery of Genesee, Feb. 12th, 1840. In 1843, it numbered 
seventy-six members, and, in 1846, eighty. These are the only re- 
ports of the number of members which the writer has seen. Rev. 
Ebenezer H. Stratton officiated as stated supply to this church, in con- 
nexion with that of Oakfield, one year from June, 1835. Rev. Russei 
Whiting officiated a short period in 1838. Both these were com- 
missioned by the American Home Missionary Society. What 
other ministerial aid was enjoyed by this church till 1842, is not 
known to the writer. On the fifth day of October of that year, 
Rev. Gabriel S. Corwin was ordained and installed pastor of the 
church, and, as the writer supposes, still retains that station. 

Oakfield. — Of this church the writer has no information, except 
what he derives from the statistical tables attached to the minutes 
of the General Assembly. It first appears on the minutes for 
1836, as a church under the care of the Presbytery of Genesee, 
having a stated supply. The next year it is reported as con- 
sisting of eighty-seven members, having received fifty within the 
preceding year, and having Rev. Ebenezer H. Stratton as stated 

35 



546 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



supply. In 1846, it is reported as consisting of ninety-eight mem- 
bers, and statedly supplied by Rev. Hiram Gregg. 

Alabama. — This church, organized by a Committee of the Pres- 
bytery of Genesee, was received under the care of that body, 
Feb. 11th, 1824, and by an act of the Presbytery was merged in 
the church of Oakfield, Oct. 15th of the same year. Of what 
number of members it was composed the writer is not informed. 

Pembroke. — This town was set off from Batavia in 1812 or '13. 
Of course the population at that period must have been sufficient 
for the purposes of a town organization. The church, as the wri- 
ter supposes, was formed a Congregational church, and was re- 
ceived under the care of the Presbytery of Niagara (now Buffalo), 
July 1st, 1817. It was transferred to the Presbytery of Genesee, 
on the organization of that body. In 1825, it numbered twenty 
members; in 1830, forty-two ; in 1834, one hundred and sixty-one ; 
and in 1846, one hundred and fourteen. Rev. Hugh Wallis re- 
moved his family into the town in the latter part of the year 1816, 
or in the early part of the next year, and continued to reside there 
for many years. The author believes that he organized the church, 
either before or shortly after the removal of his family into the 
place. He ministered to this church to a considerable extent in its 
infancy, and for a number of years performed much service as a 
missionary on the Holland Purchase, under appointments from the 
Genesee Missionary Society, the Connecticut Missionary Society, 
and the General Assembly's Board of Missions. The church ap- 
pears to have had only occasional supplies for a number of years. 
Rev. Frye B. Reed was stated supply for two thirds of the time 
for two years from September, 1827, under the patronage of the 
American Home Missionary Society. He was followed by Rev. 
Lot B. Sullivan, for one year under the same patronage. The 
writer finds a notice of the, dismission of Rev. John Sherer from 
the church of Pembroke, April 23d, 1833, but he finds no record 
of his installation, or has overlooked it in examining the records. 
Mr. Sherer was appointed a missionary by the Assembly's Board 
•for one year from February, 1831, to this church. It is probable 
that he continued two years. Rev. Alvah C. Page is reported as 
stated supply in 1834, and from this period till 1842. On the 
twenty-third day of June of that year, Rev. Silas C. Biown was 
installed pastor of the church, and continued till Sept. 9th, 1845, 
when he was dismissed. The next, year, Rev. Darwin Chichester 
is reported as the stated supply. Several seasons of refreshing 
from the presence of the Lord have been enjoyed by this church, 
particularly in 1834, in which year eighty-six members are report- 
ed as added to the church by profession. 



PRESBYTERY OF GENESEE, 



547 



Batavia. — The settlement of this village commenced about the 
beginning of the present century, and progressed with great ra- 
pidity, it being the metropolis of the Holland Purchase. The first 
inhabitants, in general, were not very friendly to the institutions of 
religion, and some years passed before any religious order was 
established. A church was at length organized, as the writer 
believes, of the Congregational order, but it has long since adopted 
the Presbyterian mode of discipline. It was received under the 
care of the Presbytery of Niagara (now Buffalo), Feb. 3d, 1818. 
The writer believes that this was soon after the organization of the 
church. It was assigned to the Presbytery of Genesee on the 
•organization of that body. In 1825, it numbered fifty-three mem- 
bers ; in 1830, one hundred and nine ; in 1834, two hundred and 
forty-one, and in 1846, two hundred and forty-seven. Rev. 
Ephraim Chapin was ordained and installed pastor of the church, 
April 8th, 1818, and the pastoral relation was dissolved. Feb. 27th, 
1822. Rev. Calvin Colton was installed pastor, March 17th, 1825, 
&nd was dismissed from his pastoral charge, Sept. 20th, 1826. 
Rev. Charles Whitehead was ordained and inducted into the pas- 
toral office, June 19th, 1827, and was dismissed, March 23d, 1828. 
He was succeeded by Rev. Russel Whiting, who was installed, 
April 21st 5 1829, and was dismissed, Feb. 9th, 1831. Rev. Char- 
les Fitch followed as stated supply two or three years, but was not 
installed. Rev. Erastus J. Gillett was installed pastor of the church, 
July 26th, L837, and sustained the office till April 18th, 1839, when 
the relation was dissolved. Rev. William H. Beecher was his 
successor. He was inducted into the pastoral office, Oct. 22d, 
1839, and w r as dismissed from his charge, August 1st, 1843. Rev. 
Byron Sunderland, the present pastor, was installed in the office, 
Feb. 12th, 1845. In a number of instances God has revived his 
work in this place, and large additions have been made to the 
•church. The greatest number ever reported in one year by pro- 
fession, was sixty-five. This was in 1834. In other years from 
twenty to thirty have been reported. This church has an appro- 
priate house of worship, and has always supported its own minis- 
ter without foreign aid. There are in the village of Batavia, one 
Episcopal, two Baptist, and one Methodist, houses of worship. 

Stafford. — This town was originally a part of the town of Bata- 
via, and the settlement was contemporaneous with that of Batavia. 
The church was organized on the Congregational plan, and was 
received under the care of the Presbytery of Genesee, Feb. 6th, 
1821, as the writer supposes, on the accommodating plan. It was 
dismissed from the Presbytery to unite with the Genesee Consocia- 
tion, Sept. 21st, 1824, and again received under the care of the 
Presbytery, Jan. 13th, 1846. In 1846, it numbered seventy-five 
members. Of its history the writer knows but little. Rev. Md- 



548 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



ton Huxley was commissioned to labor in this church by the 
United Domestic, and American Home Missionary Societies, three 
years in succession from May, 1825. He is styled pastor. Rev. 
Lyman P. Judson officiated as stated supply between one and two 
years in 1836 and '37, under the patronage of the American Home 
Missionary Society. Since Mr. Judson's departure, Rev. Messrs. 
Louis Mills for two years, and Rev. H. G. Ward for one year, have, 
under the same patronage, officiated as stated supplies. Messrs. 
Judson and Mills reported interesting revivals as having been en- 
joyed during their ministry. This church has an appropriate 
house of worship in the village, and there are two others, but to 
what denomination they belong the writer is not informed. 

Le Roy. — The settlement of this town commenced near the 
close of the last century on the hill somewhat east of the site of 
the present village. It was for some years denominated Ganson's 
Settlement, a name derived from that of the family which first 
located here. The first missionary who visited the settlement was 
Rev. David Perry of Richmond (Mass.), who performed a mission- 
ary tour in the service of the Berkshire and Columbia Missionary 
Society, in the summer of 1800. He probably preached the first 
sermon ever delivered in the place. The settlement at that time 
consisted of about sixteen or eighteen families, and was the most 
western settlement in the State of New York. At that period 
there was a man of the name of Carver resident in the settlement, 
who was a member of a Congregational church, and the only male 
professor of religion in the settlement. He was induced, through 
the influence and advice of Mr. Perry, to commence public wor- 
ship on the Sabbath. This was continued for a season, but ere 
long was discontinued, in consequence of the neglect of attendance. 
At what period it was resuscitated, is not known to the writer. A 
Congregational church was organized, which was received under 
the care of the Presbytery of Geneva on the accommodating plan, 
August 8tb, 1815. It was transferred to the Presbytery of Niagara 
(now Buffalo), on the organization of that body, and from that to 
the Presbytery of Genesee. At what time it adopted the Presby- 
terian form of discipline, is not known to the writer. In 1825, it 
consisted of ninety-eight members; in 1830, of one hundred and 
seventy-nine ; in 1843, of three hundred and eighty-six ; and in 
1846, of two hundred and eleven. What should have caused so 
great a diminution between the two last mentioned dates, is not 
known to the writer. Rev. Calvin Colton was installed pastor of 
the church, Feb. 2d, 1820, and the pastoral relation was dissolved, 
Feb. 11th, 1824. Rev. Joseph Myers was ordained and installed 
in the pastorate, Dec. 28th, 1825. He was released from his pas- 
toral relation, August 27th, 1828. In 1830 and '31, Rev. Gilbert 
Crawford is reported as the stated supply of this church. Rev. 



PRESBYTERY OF GENESEE. 



549 



Benjamin B. Stockton was installed as its pastor, Oct. 2d, 1833, and 
continued till June 18th, 1835, when the relation was dissolved. 
Rev. Ebenezer Mead succeeded. He was installed pastor, Oct. 10th, 
1837, and was dismissed, Oct. 11th, 1843. He was succeeded by 
Rev. Gilbert Crawford as stated supply, whose labors are still con- 
tinued.* In 1815, this church enjoyed a season of revival, as the 
author believes, in connexion with the labors of Rev. David Tullar, 
in which from fifteen to twenty were hopefully born again. Mr. 
Tullar was with the church as a stated supply for a considerable 
period. Several other seasons of special revival have been enjoyed 
by this church, which have added largely to its number of mem- 
bers. The church has ever supported its ministers without foreign 
aid, and has a good house of worship, built many years since. The 
Methodist, Baptist, and Episcopal denominations have each a house 
of worship in the village. 

Caledonia. — Of the settlement of this place by a colony from 
Scotland, and the organization of a Presbyterian church by Rev. 
Jedidiah Chapman, March 4th, 1805, we have spoken in a former 
chapter. This church was received under the care of the Presby- 
tery of Geneva, June 25th, 1806. On the organization of the Pres- 
bytery of Ontario it was assigned to that body, and from that trans- 
ferred to the Presbytery of Genesee, when that was instituted. 
After the exscinding act of 1837, and the division of the Presbyte- 
rian Church, this church and its pastor connected themselves with 
the Presbytery of Susquehannah, of which they gave notice to the 
Presbytery of Genesee, and the names of the pastor and the church 
were stricken from the roll of the Presbytery, Feb. 15th, 1838. 
The church is now under the care of the Presbytery of Wyoming, 
connected with the Synod of Buffalo (Old School). The church 
in 1825 consisted of seventy-two members ; and in 1836 of seventy- 
eight. This is the last report which the writer has seen. The 
former number is the least, and the latter the greatest which had 
ever been reported. The greatest number reported as received on 
profession in any one year, is three. Rev. Alexander Denoon, the 
present pastor of the church, is a native of Scotland. He was edu- 
cated at the University of Aberdeen, and pursued theological 
studies in Scotland. He emigrated to this country, and received a 
license to preach from the Presbytery of Geneva, June 26th, 1806. 
He immediately commenced preaching as a stated supply to the 
church of Caledonia, and continued in that capacity till August 17th, 
1808, on which day he was ordained and installed pastor of the 
church, and for a period of almost forty years has continued to ful- 
fil the duties of his station. Scotch stability and uniformity have 

* While this work is in the press information is received of the death of Mr. Craw- 
ford. 



550 



WESTERN NEW YORK, 



characterized the proceedings of this church from its organization. 
It has an appropriate house of worship, built many years since. 

Pavilion. — This town was taken from Covington, and organized 
as a separate town in 1841. The church was organized and re- 
ported to the Presbytery of Genesee, Feb. 25th, 1840. It is reported 
in 1843 as consisting of forty members. In 1846 the number was 
reduced to thirty-five. As stated supplies, Rev. Isaac Flagler offi- 
ciated somewhat more than two years, from November, 1840. He 
was succeeded by Rev. Benjamin Russell for one year, and he by 
Rev. Hiram Gregg, for a similar period. He was followed by Rev. 
Henry W. Smuller, who was still in continuance at the last report. 
In the support of all these ministers the church has been aided by 
the American Home Missionary Society. They have an appropri- 
ate house of worship, for which a debt was contracted which lay 
as a burden on the church for several years. The Baptist church 
have a house of worship in the village, and also the Universalist 
society. 

East Bethany. — The writer supposes that this is the church 
which was till 1830, or somewhat later, named Bethany. He finds 
no- record of its organization or reception by the Presbytery. It 
was reported in 1827 as a church under the care of the Presbytery 
of Genesee, and so was reported from year to year till 1831. The 
two next years the Presbytery made no report to the General As- 
sembly. In 1834, the name of East Bethany is found on the Re- 
port, and Bethany appears no more. No record is made on the 
minutes of the Presbytery of the reception of such a church as 
East Bethany. The name of this church was stricken from the roll 
of the Presbytery of Genesee, Sept. 15th, 1842, the church having 
connected itself with the Presbytery of Caledonia (Old School). 
On the division of that Presbytery this church was assigned to the 
Presbytery of Wyoming. In 1828 this church numbered forty-six 
members; in 1834, one hundred and six; and in 1836, seventy. 
This is the last enumeration which the author has seen. In 1828, 
and the three following years, the church is reported as furnished 
with a stated supply, but no name is reported. In 1834, Rev. Isaac 
Oakes was stated supply, and continued one year. In 1837. Rev. 
Eliphalet B. Column was stated supply. How long he continued 
is not known to the writer. In 1846 Rev. Isaac Oakes was again 
stated supply. The records of the Presbytery of Genesee notice 
a revival of religion as having been enjoyed by this church in 1838, 
but the result of it is not known to the writer. The church was as- 
sisted in 1834 for one year, in the support of Mr. Oakes, by the As- 
sembly's Board of Missions. 

Bethany Centre. — This church was reported as organized, and 



PRESBYTERY OF GENESEE. 



551 



received under the care of the Presbytery of Genesee, Feb. 10th, 
1830. Its name was stricken from the list of churches under the 
care of that Presbytery, Feb. 14th, 1844, it having become con- 
nected with another Presbytery. It is now under the care of the 
Presbytery of Buffalo City (Old School). In 1836 it consisted of 
sixty-eight members; in 1843, of forty-five; and in 1846, of sixty- 
seven. As stated supplies, Rev. Messrs. James B. Wilcox, Lemuel 
Brooks, Alvah C. Page, Josiah Pierson, Russel Whiting, and James 
Remington, have been successively employed. In the support of 
its ministers the church has been aided by the American Home 
Missionary Society, and the Assembly's Board of Missions. 

Alexander. — This church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Niagara (now Buffalo), Feb. 9th, 1819, and was 
transferred to the Presbytery of Genesee on the organization of 
that body. In 1825, it numbered twenty-three members ; in 1834, 
fifty-eight: in 1843, sixty- five ; and, in 1846, thirty-five. During 
a large proportion of the time, it has been reported as vacant. As 
stated supplies, Rev. Messrs. James B. Wilcox, William C. Knif- 
fin, Milo N. Miles. Henry W. Smuller, C. R. Clark, and J. S. 
Baris have, at different times, been employed, most of them for one 
year only. In 1834, the church reported eighteen members as 
having been added, by profession, the preceding year, indicating 
that a measure of divine influence had been enjoyed. In the sup- 
port of most of the above named ministers, the church has been 
aided by the American Home Missionary Society. The church 
has an appropriate house of worship, and there is another in the 
village, which belongs to the Universalists. 

Union Church of Alexander and Darien. — This church, consist- 
ing of eight members, was organized by a Committee, and received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Genesee, Feb. 10th, 1835. 
The next year it was found to be reduced in number to two males 
and five females, and was attached to the church of Alexander. 

Darien. — This church seems to be, in the reports of the Presby- 
tery, indiscriminately called Darien and Darien Centre. It was 
originally named South Pembroke, the town of Darien being for- 
merly a part of Pembroke. It was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Genesee, August 21st, 1S24, by the name of Pem- 
broke South. The name was changed to Darien Centre, in 1837. 
In 1825, it consisted of eighteen members ; in 1834, of thirteen ; 
in 1840, of seventy-six ; and, in 1846, of forty. It appears to have 
been always a feeble church, and the greater part of the time has 
been reported as vacant. Rev. Truman Baldwin, under the 
patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, labored here 
as a stated supply, one year from July, 1S36, during which period 



552 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



the church enjoyed a season of refreshing, and eighteen members, 
by profession, were added to the church. In 1840, Rev. Levi A. 
Skinner was reported as stated supply. What other supplies have 
labored on this field is unknown to the writer. The church has a 
house of worship, which was erected in 1836. 

Darren Village. — This church was connected with the Presby- 
tery of Genesee, in April, 1833, and was united with the church of 
South Pembroke, Sept. 10th, 1834. Its number of members was 
not reported. 

Bennington. — This town was originally a part of the town of 
Sheldon, and is composed of township No. 10, in the 3d range of 
townships, on the Holland Purchase. The settlement of it was 
commenced about the year 1806 or '07, by Hon. Chauncey Loomis 
and others, who emigrated from Hartford County (Conn.). Public 
worship was instituted about 1810, and a Congregational church, 
consisting of seven members, was organized in 1814, by Rev. John 
Spencer and Rev. Hugh Wallis. This is the church, as the author 
supposes, which was designated as Sheldon No. 10, 3d Range. It 
was received under the care of the Presbytery of Niagara, Feb. 
3d, 1818, and was assigned to the Presbytery of Genesee, on its 
organization. In 1825, it numbered fourteen members; in 1834, 
twenty-three ; and, in 1846, forty-seven, the highest number it has 
ever reported. Previous to the settlement of the present pastor, 
the church had enjoyed the ministry of stated supplies to the amount 
of about two years. In 1842, Rev. Isaac Chichester was employed 
as a stated supply, and, on the third day of December, 1844, he 
was installed pastor of the church. On the same day, their new 
house of worship, which is a well built edifice, forty-two feet in length, 
and thirty-four in breadth, was dedicated to the worship of the 
triune God. Since the settlement of Mr. Chichester, there have been 
some instances of hopeful conversion and a gradual enlargement 
of the church. The American Home Missionary Society has lent 
its aid to this church in the support of the pastor, and still continues 
its patronage. The members of the church are intermixed with 
Methodists, Baptists, and Campbellites. 

Bennington Second Church. — The author supposes that this is 
the church which was received under the care of the Presbytery 
of Niagara, Feb. 3d, 1818, by the name of Sheldon Third Church. 
It was transferred to the Presbytery of Genesee, on the organiza- 
tion of that body, and by an act of the Presbytery, was amalgamat- 
ed with the church of Attica, August 26th, 1823. 

Attica. — This town was set off from Sheldon in 1811, and then 
comprehended the present towns of Attica, Orangeville, and 



I'RESBYTERY OF GENESEE. 



553 



Weathersfield. The author believes that the original church desig- 
nated as the church of Attica is the present church of Orange ville, and 
that the present church of Attica was organized at a later period, 
and received under the care of the Presbytery of Genesee, Feb. 11th, 
1823. The next year the second church of Bennington, as has been 
stated, was annexed to it. In 1827, it reported fifty-seven members ; 
in 1834, one hundred and thirty-nine ; in 1843, two hundred and 
thirty-eight ; and in 1846, one hundred and eighty-nine. In 1827, 
Rev. Ebenezer Mead was a stated supply, under the patronage of 
the American Home Missionary Society, and continued one year. 
Rev. Hiland Hulburd was reported as stated supply in 1834. Rev. 
James B. Shaw was ordained and installed pastor of the church, 
July 1st, 1835, and the pastoral relation was dissolved, March 19th, 
1839. Rev. John B. Preston succeeded him in the pastorate, and 
was installed, Oct. 23d, 1839. He was dismissed, Dec. 3d, 1834. 
What other ministers have labored on this field is not known to the 
writer. Repeated revivals of religion have been enjoyed by this 
church. In October, 1842, fifty were reported as having been ad- 
ded to the church by profession within a few months. This church 
appears to have received aid from the American Home Missionary 
Society but one year. It has an appropriate house of worship. 
The Methodist, denomination has also a house of worship in the 
village of Attica. 

Attica Centre. — This church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Genesee, Feb. 28th, 1833. It was annually reported 
by the Presbytery as vacant till 1837, since which period its name 
is not to be found in the reports. No number of members at any 
time was reported. Whether the church has become extinct, or 
has withdrawn from the Presbytery, is not known to the writer. 

Wyoming. — This village is located in the town of Middlebury. 
The church originally was denominated the church of Middlebury, 
and by that name is designated in the reports of the Presbytery of 
Genesee. It is now known as the church of Wyoming. It was 
received under the care of the Presbytery of Genesee, Feb. 12th, 
1822. It is supposed by the writer that this was shortly after its 
organization. Its name was stricken from the roll of the churches 
connected with the Presbytery of Genesee, Sept. 15th, 1842, it 
having joined the Presbytery of Caledonia. On the division of that 
Presbytery it was assigned to the Presbytery of Wyoming. In 
1828, it numbered forty-one members; in 1831, one hundred and 
four ; and in 1846, one hundred and thirty-one. Rev. Eli S. Hun- 
ter, D.D., under the patronage of the American Home Missionary 
Society, supplied the church one half of the time during the year 
1827. In 1830, he supplied the whole of the time, under an ap- 
pointment from the Assembly's Board of Missions. Dr. Hunter 



554 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



continued as stated supply with the church several years. Rev. 
Norris Bull was installed as pastor of the church, Sept. 17th, 1832. 
His relation to the church was dissolved, Feb. 11th, 1836. In 1837, 
Rev. Samuel Shaffer was reported as stated supply. Rev. Pliny 
Twitchel was pastor in 1846, but how long he sustained the office, 
is not known to the writer. This church has been blessed with the 
reviving influences of God's Spirit, though not to the same extent as 
some others. In 1831, fifty-six members were reported as added to 
the church by profession the preceding year. This is the largest 
number which the author finds on record. This church has an ap- 
propriate house of worship, and there is also in the village a house 
of worship which belongs to the Baptist church. 

Covington. — This church, consisting of about fourteen members, 
was received under the care of the Presbytery of Genesee, Sept. 
18th, 1827. The writer supposes that this church was organized 
on the principles of Presbyterianism, and that a Congregational 
church, previously organized, existed at the same time. On the 
records of the Presbytery, under date of April 15th, 1834, it is 
stated that the Congregational church of Covington was received 
under the care of the Presbytery, and consolidated with the Pres- 
byterian church on the accommodating plan. The church was 
dismissed from the care of the Presbytery to unite with the Gene- 
see Consociation, Oct. 10th, 1837. On the reports of the Presby- 
tery no number of members is reported except for 1829. The 
number then was fourteen. 'As stated supplies, Rev. John F. 
Bliss, one year, under the patronage of the General Assembly's 
Board of Missions, and Rev. Messrs. J. B. Willcox, Ezra Scovill, 
and Samuel Griswold, for one year each, under the patronage of 
the American Home Missionary Society, have been employed. 
What other ministerial aid the church has enjoyed is not known to 
the writer. The church has an appropriate house of worship. 

Perry First Church. — This church was organized a Congrega- 
tional church about the year 1815 or '16. It was received under 
the care of the Presbytery of Geneva on the accommodating plan, 
Aug. 13th, 1816, and from that Presbytery was transferred to the 
Presbytery of Niagara, and from that to the Presbytery of Genesee, 
on the organization of those bodies. In 1825, it numbered thirty- 
five members, and in 1831, eighty-one. This is the last enumera- 
tion the author has seen. Till 1830, the church was uniformly re- 
ported as' vacant. That year it was reported as having a stated 
supply, and the next year Rev. Samuel H. Gridley was reported 
as pastor. Sept. 22d, 1831, the church was dismissed from its 
connexion with the Presbytery. Since this period the author has 
no information respecting its history. This church has a house of 
worship at the place called Perry Centre. 



PRESBYTERY OF GENESEE. 



555 



Perry Second Church. — This church was received under the 
care of the Presbytery of Genesee, August 27th, 1822. In 
1825, it consisted of fourteen members, and the next year of fifteen. 
These are the only instances in which the number of members is 
reported. The church was uniformly reported as vacant down to 
1831, when it was merged in the first church, and ceased to have 
a separate existence, August 30th, 1831. 

Perry Village. — The Presbyterian church of Perry village, con- 
sisting of twenty-three members, eight males and fifteen females, 
was organized by the Presbytery of Genesee, July 14th, 1835. 
Most or all the members were taken from the church at Perry 
Centre, having letters of dismission in the ordinary manner. In 
1840, it numbered eighty-nine members, and in 1846, ninety-three, 
For a few months alter the organization it enjoyed occasional 
preaching, when Rev. David K. Gaily was obtained as a stated 
supply. He continued with them about two years, and was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. Isaac Chichester, who continued but a few months* 
His successor was Rev. Selden Haynes, who supplied the congre- 
gation somewhat more than a year. Their present pastor, Rev, 
Joseph R. Page, commenced labor in the autumn of 1839, and 
since that time has been with them, with the exception of twenty- 
one months spent at Auburn Seminary, during which period the 
church was supplied one year by Rev. Wales Tileston, and the 
remaining period by Rev. B. Beckwith. Mr. Page was installed 
pastor of the church, Oct. 4th, 1843, being their first pastor. The 
church has never been visited w r ith a general and powerful revival, 
although it has enjoyed several seasons of more than usual religious 
interest, during which some have been hopefully converted. In 
the spring of 1843, about twenty united with the church on a pro- 
fession of faith in Christ. The church was assisted by the American 
Home Missionary Society two years in the support of Mr. Gallv, 
also in the support of the present pastor. In 1838, a handsome 
brick edifice for divine worship was erected, sixty feet in length 
by forty in breadth. By deaths and removals the church has lost 
within three years past much of its pecuniary strength. It is 
estimated that not more than one sixth of the population of the 
village can be regarded as connected with the Presbyterian Con- 
gregation. The Baptist church consists of about three hundred 
members ; the Methodist about the same size. The Universalist 
Society is quite able. Each of these denominations has a house 
of worship in the village. Within the precincts of the town there 
are seven religious organizations : one Presbyterian, one Con- 
gregational, two Baptist, two Methodist, and one Universalist. 

Warsaw. — This town formerly comprehended the present towns 
of Middlebury, Warsaw, and Gainesville. The settlement of the 



556 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



town of Warsaw was commenced nearly as early as that of any 
other on the Holland Purchase. The church of Warsaw, organ- 
ized a Congregational church, was the first organized church of 
that order on the Purchase, and it was not until some time after- 
wards that any church of the Presbyterian order was formed on that 
territory. The church was received under the care of the Presby- 
tery of Geneva, on the accommodating plan, Sept. 21st, 1813. At 
what period it adopted the Presbyterian form of government in 
full is not known to the writer. At the organization of the Presby- 
tery of Niagara it was assigned to that body, and afterwards trans- 
ferred to the Presbytery of Genesee. Its name was stricken from 
the roll of churches belonging to the Presbytery, April 3d, 1842, it 
having united with the Presbytery of Caledonia (Old School). On 
the division of that Presbytery it was assigned to the Presbytery of 
Wyoming. In 1825 it reported seventy-seven members; in 1834, 
one hundred and forty-two ; and in 1846, one hundred and thirty- 
two. Rev. Silas Hubbard was installed pastor of this church Oct. 
27th, 1813, by a Committee of the Presbytery of Geneva. This 
was the first instance of the settlement of a minister on the Holland 
Purchase. The labors of Mr. Hubbard were divided between this 
church and that of Attica (now Orangeville). His pastoral relation 
to the church was dissolved May 2d, 1816. Rev. Hippocrates 
Rowe succeeded him in the pastorate, and was installed pastor of 
the united churches of Warsaw and Orangeville, Dec. 4th, 1816. 
When, and in what way, the pastoral relation of Mr. Row T e to this 
church terminated, is not recollected by the writer. He finds on 
the minutes of the Presbytery no notice of his dismission or death, 
nor is his name to be found on the list of ministers belonging to the 
Presbyterian church in the United States in 1819. The churches 
of Warsaw and Orangeville are reported for that year as vacant. 
Rev. Abiel Parmele was ordained and installed pastor of the church 
of Warsaw July 26th, 1824. His dismission took place April 17th, 
1827. From this time the church was without a regular pastor till 
Feb. 28th, 1833. On that day Rev. Ezra Scovil was inducted into 
the pastoral office, which he held till March 4th, 1835, when he 
was dismissed. After Mr. Scovil's dismission the church was 
statedly supplied for some time, but by whom is unknown to the 
writer. Rev. Ralph S. Crampton was installed pastor of the church 
Sept. 12th, 1839, and his dismission took place Feb. 27th, 1840. 
Between the period of the termination of Mr. Rowe's ministry and 
the settlement of Mr. Parmele, Rev. Norris Bull officiated two years 
as stated supply. In 1846 Rev. Richard Kay was employed as 
stated supply. How long he had acted in that capacity is not 
known to the writer. This church has been repeatedly and richly 
visited with the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit. In 1826 a 
blessed revival was enjoyed, in which it was estimated that not less 
than sixty or seventy souls were born again. In 1834, '36, and '37, 



PRESBYTERY OF GENESEE. 



557 



very considerable numbers were reported as added to the church 
by profession, the results of blessed effusions of the Holy Spirit on 
the congregation. 

On the twelfth day of April, 1827, a Congregational church was 
organized by Rev. John F. Bliss of the Genesee Consociation. This 
church was constituted in part of members withdrawing from the 
Presbyterian church without regular dismissions. The author sup- 
poses that it was connected with the Genesee Consociation, and that 
it still continues, but of its history he is uninformed. The Baptist 
and Methodist denominations have churches in the village, and 
each of the four denominations has a house of worship in the village 
of Warsaw. 

Orangeville. — This town was formerly a part of the town of At- 
tica. The present church of Orangeville was, as the writer sup- 
poses, named Attica, and was organized a Congregational church. 
It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, on the 
accommodating plan, Sept. 21st, 1813. From that Presbytery it 
was transferred to Niagara, and from Niagara to Genesee, on the 
establishment of those Presbyteries. In 1825 it consisted of twenty- 
two members; in 1834, of ninety-eight; and in 1846, of one hun- 
dred and two. Rev. Silas Hubbard ministered to this church, in 
connexion with that of Warsaw, for a period of two years and a 
half. A committee, on the call of the church, was appointed by the 
Presbytery of Geneva to instal Mr. Hubbard pastor of this church, 
in the month of June, 1814; but whether the installation actually 
took place is doubted by the writer. He finds on the records of 
the Presbytery no report of that committee, and no notice of Mr. 
Hubbard's dismission from the pastoral relation. Rev. Hippocrates 
Rowe was installed pastor of this church, in connexion with that of 
Warsaw, Dec. 4th, 1816. In 1819 the church was vacant, and 
from that period down to 1834, was for the principal part of the time 
reported vacant. Rev. Warren Day, under the patronage of the 
American Home Missionary Society, supplied this church, in con- 
nexion with that of Weathersfield, one year, from April, 1829. Rev. 
William C. Kniffen was installed pastor of this church, Jan. 7th, 
1836. He continued a little more than one year, and was dismissed 
Feb. 16th, 1837. In 1840 Rev. Isaac Chichester was reported as 
stated supply ; and in 1846, Rev. R. H. Conklin. In the years 
1832, 1835, and 1837, this church enjoyed seasons of refreshing 
from the presence of the Lord, but the work does not seem to have 
been very extensive. 

Varysburgh. — This village is situated near the north-eastern 
corner of the town of Sheldon. The church was received under 
the care of the Presbytery of Genesee, August 30th, 1843. In 1846 
it reported only fourteen members. This is the only enumeration 



558 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



which the author has seen. Rev. Ward Childs ministered here, 
under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, a 
part of the time for one year, from February, 1843, and in 1846 it 
was reported as statedly supplied. Whether it has a house of wor- 
ship is not known to the writer. The Methodist and Baptist de- 
nominations have each a house of worship in the village. 

Sheldon First Church. — This church was received under the 
care of the Presbytery of Niagara, Feb. 3d, 1818, and was then 
styled Sheldon No. 9, 3d Range, to distinguish it from other 
churches in the town of Sheldon, which at that period included the 
whole, or at least the principal part of the present towns of Ben- 
nington, Sheldon. Java, China, Sardinia, Holland, and Wales. At 
the organization of the Presbytery of Genesee, this church was 
transferred to that body. In 1826, it numbered fifty-one members ; 
in 1834, ninety; and in 1846, eighty. As stated supplies Rev. 
Messrs. Hugh Wallis, Eliphalet B. Colman, John C. Morgan, Abel 
Caldwell, William Putnam, and Ward Childs, at different periods, 
have been employed. Several of them at the same time supplied 
another congregation. In the support of these ministers the church 
was aided by the American Home Missionary Society. This 
church has enjoyed several seasons of precious revival, by which 
it has been enlarged. The greatest number of members received 
on profession in any one year, which the author finds on record, is 
twenty-seven. This report was made in 1834. This church has 
an appropriate house of worship in the village of Sheldon. The 
Episcopal church has also a house of worship in the same village. 

Sheldon Second Church, or Strykersville. — The village of Stry- 
kersville is located in the south-western quarter of the town of 
Sheldon. The church which has its location here is known on the 
reports of the Presbytery as Sheldon Second Church. It was or- 
ganized with seventeen members taken from Sheldon First Church, 
by Rev. Hugh Wallis, and received under the care of the Presby- 
tery of Genesee, Oct. 12th, 1825. In 1830, it consisted of ninety 
members ; in 1843, of ninety-four ; and in 1846, of eighty-two. 
At times it has enjoyed stated ministrations of the gospel in 
connexion with the first church ; but for a considerable proportion 
of the time it has been reported as vacant. Rev. Ward Childs 
was installed as pastor of the church, in the month of January, 
1837, and continued about four years, being dismissed, Feb. 10th, 
1841. Mr. Childs was reported as stated supply to the church in 
1846. This church has been aided by the American Home Mis- 
sionary Society. It has an appropriate house of worship in the 
village of Strykersville,where also the Baptist church has a house of 
worship. 

Java, — This church, soon after its organization, was received 



PRESBYTERY OF GENESEE. 



559 



under the care of the Presbytery of Genesee, Feb. 12, 1833. The 
author finds no record of the number of its members at any time. 
It was a small and feeble church, and was uniformly reported 
vacant. It appears, however, that in the latter part of 1838, and 
the former part of the next year, Rev. John T. Baldwin labored 
here a part of the time, under a commission from the American 
Home Missionary Society. Under an appointment from the same 
Society, Rev. John Thalhimer supplied a part of the time for one 
year, from April, 1844. His labors must have been directed to 
another people, as the church of Java, under the care of the Pres- 
bytery of Genesee, was recorded as extinct, in March, 1843. 

Weathersfield Spring. — This village is located in the north- 
western quarter of the town of Weathersfield. A Presbyterian 
church was organized, which was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Genesee, Feb. 14th, 1832. In 1834, it numbered 
fifty-six members, and, in 1846, forty-five. In 1834, Rev. Ahijah 
Blanchard was reported as the stated supply. In 1836, Rev. Con- 
rad Ten Eyck was stated supply, under commission from the 
American Home Missionary Society, and continued one year. In 
1841, Rev. Ward Childs labored a part of the time, for six months, 
under the same patronage. What ministerial aid the church has 
enjoyed since that period, is not known to the writer. In 1834, 
twenty were reported as having united with the church, by profes- 
sion, the preceding year. Also, in 1836, mention is made on the 
minutes of the Presbytery, that this church had enjoyed a refresh- 
ing season. The church has an appropriate house of worship. 
There is also in the village a house of worship for the Methodists, 
and another for the Episcopalians. 

Weathersfield. — This church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Genesee, Feb. 10th, 1830. In the report of the 
Presbytery for 1834, its name is not found, nor does it appear in 
any subsequent report. Whether it has become extinct, or has 
withdrawn to join some other body, is not known to the writer, nor 
has he any information respecting the number of its members, at 
any time. Rev. John T. Baldwin and Rev. John Thalhimer spent 
each one year as stated supply to this church, in connexion with 
that of Java, under the patronage of the American Home Mis- 
sionary Society. • 

Gainesville. — -Two churches in this town have been connected 
with the Presbyterian church. They have been distinguished as 
the first and second, with reference to the date of their organiza- 
tion, and by the prefixes East and West, referring to their location. 
The church of East Gainesville, or, as it was originally called, 
Gainesville, was received under the care of the Presbytery of 



» 



560 WESTERN NEW YORK. 

Ontario, Jan. 19th, 1819, and was transferred to the Presbytery of 
Genesee on its organization. This church, in 1825, consisted of 
fifty-three members ; in 1827, of seventy-one ; and, in 1820, of forty- 
two. It was uniformly reported as vacant, except in the years 
1828 and 1834, in which it was reported as statedly supplied, but 
by whom is not designated. The second church, or church of 
West Gainesville, was received under the care of the Presbytery of 
Genesee, Feb. 6th, 1821. In 1825, it numbered thirty-seven mem- 
bers ; in 1831, ninety-three; and, in 1834, fifty-three. In 1828, 
'29, and '30, it was reported as statedly supplied, but by whom, 
does not appear. In 1834, Rev. Noah Cook was stated supply, 
under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. 
By an act of the Presbytery, Sept. 9th, 1835, the two churches 
were united, and formed the church of Gainesville, under the care 
of the Presbytery of Genesee. This church, in 1837, reported one 
hundred and fifteen members, and, in 1846, one hundred and twenty- 
four. Rev. John M. Ballou was ordained and installed pastor of 
the church, Dec. 6th, 1837. In 1827, sixteen members were report- 
ed as added the preceding year, by profession, to the church of 
East Gainesville, and, in 1831, a like number to the church of West 
Gainesville. In 1837, thirty were reported as added to the united 
church, by profession of faith. These were years of revival, in 
which God, in a measure, shed down the influences of his Holy 
Spirit to convert sinners. This church has an appropriate house 
of worship. 

Castile. — This church, denominated the First Presbyterian 
church of Castile, was organized with about thirty members, by 
a committee of the Presbytery of Genesee, and received under the 
care of the Presbytery, Feb. 10th, 1835. In 1836, it reported 
eighty-five members ; in 1840, one hundred and fifty-two ; and in 
1846, eighty. About the time of the organization of the church, 
Rev. James B. Wilcox was appointed by the General Assembly's 
Board of Missions, a missionary for one year to the church. In 
May, 1835, Rev. John F. Bliss received a similar appointment 
from the American Home Missionary Society. In 1836 and '37, 
the church is reported as statedly supplied. Rev. Joseph M. Sadd 
was installed pastor of the church, Oct. 25th, 1837. The pastoral 
relation was dissolved, April 16th, 1839. Rev. Ebenezer M. Toof 
was ordained and installed pastor of the church, April 26th, 1843, 
and still sustains the relation. This church has enjoyed at several 
times the reviving influences of the Divine Spirit, and received 
accessions to its number of converted sinners. It has an appropri- 
ate house of worship, which was erected in 1836 or '37. 

Pike. — This church was received under the care of the Presby- 
tery of Ontario, Jan. 19th, 1819, and the same year was transferred 



PRESBYTERY OF GENESEE. 



561 



to the Presbytery of Genesee on the organization of that body. 
On the organization of the Presbytery of Angelica it was surren- 
dered to the care of that body. On the records of the Presbytery 
of Genesee under date of July 15th, 1845, we find a notice of the 
reception of the Congregational Church of Pike under the care of 
that Presbytery. The author supposes it to be the same original 
church of Pike. In 1825, the church numbered sixteen members : 
and in 1846, seventy. The church was uniformly reported vacant 
till 1829, at which period Rev. Jabez Spicer was the stated supply. 
Since that period Rev. Messrs. Horace Galpin, Robert H. Conklin, 
J. Wilcox, and Eli Hyde, have severally been employed as stated 
supplies, most of them under the patronage of the American Home 
Missionary Society. Rev. Claudius B. Lord was ordained and 
installed pastor of the church, July 16th, 1845. In 1832, the 
church reported twenty-four members as having been received the 
preceding year by profession, an indication that the Spirit of the 
Lord had visited the church with his sanctifying and saving influ- 
ences. The two following years, numbers were added to the 
church. The church has an appropriate house of worship. The 
Baptist and Methodist churches also have each a house of worship 
in the village of Pike. 

China. — This town was formerly a part of the town of Sheldon, 
and the present church of China, the author supposes, was originally 
denominated Sheldon South Church, and by that name was received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Niagara, Feb. 3d, 1818. It 
was assigned to the Presbytery of Genesee on its organization. 
Its location is at the village of Arcade, in the town of China. In 
1825, it numbered thirty-seven members ; in 1836, one hundred 
and thirty-nine ; and in 1843, one hundred, which is the last report 
that the author has seen. Rev. Edmund Ingalls, under the patron- 
age of the American Home Missionary Society, officiated in this 
church, generally, in connexion with some neighboring church, for 
about six years from July, 1827. Rev. Solomon Stevens was 
installed pastor of the church, March 4th, 1835. He continued 
about two years, and was dismissed, Feb. 16th, 1837. In 1840, 
Rev. Huntington Lyman was reported as stated supply. Since 
that period the author has no information. In 1834, twenty-three 
members were reported as having united by profession with the 
church the preceding year. These were the fruits of a revival, 
enjoyed during the year. This church has a house of worship 
which was completed in 1834. 



36 



562 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

Presbytery of Ontario : — Centrefield, East Bloomfield, Victor, West Bloomfield, Lima, 
Avon, Avon Free Church, York Second, York First, Moscow, Geneseo, Lakeville, 
Livonia, Richmond, Bristol, South Bristol, Canadice, Conesus, Groveland, Mount 
Morris, Mount Morris Second, Nunda, Sparta, Sparta Second, Dansville Village, 
Springwater, Conhocton Second. 

We pass next in our survey to the churches which have been 
connected with 

THE PRESBYTERY OF ONTARIO. 

Centrefield. — This is a small village in the town of Canandaigua, 
near the line of East Bloomfield. In religious affairs, till compara- 
tively a late period, it might be considered as connected with 
Canandaigua, Bristol, or East Bloomfield, the few professors of the 
Congregational order being connected with one or the other of 
those churches. In 1831, there was a very general revival in most 
of the surrounding towns, and this village participated largely in. 
the gracious influence, which paved the way for the organization 
of a Congregational church. On the 12th day of November, 1832, 
Rev. Silas C. Brown, Rev. Robert W. Hill, and Rev. Edwin Bron- 
son organized a church consisting of thirty-five members, of whom 
seventeen were received by letter, and eighteen on their profession 
of faith in Christ. Of those received by letter, five were from the 
church of East Bloomfield, five from the church in North Bristol, 
and two from the church in Canandaigua. The five others were 
from churches at a distance. This church was received under the 
care of the Presbytery of Ontario, January 15th, 1833. What is 
the present number of members is not known to the writer : it is 
not large. The church has never had a regularly installed pastor, 
but has been furnished with stated supplies the most of the time. 
Rev. Messrs. S. Storrs Howe, Jonathan Leslie, Benjamin B. 
Smith, Joseph K. Ware, and Silas C. Brown, have severally offi- 
ciated in this capacity. The church has received, to some extent, 
the aid of the American Home Missionary Society. They have an 
appropriate house of worship. There is also in the village a house 
of worship belonging to the Episcopal denomination. The Society 
is able to have preaching but a part of the time. 

East Bloomfield. — The settlement of this place, and its early 
religious history, have been noticed in a former chapter. A Con- 
gregational church consisting of sixteen members, eight males and 
eight females, was organized November 15th, 1796, by Rev. Zadoc 



t 



PRESBYTERY OF ONTARIO. 



563 



Hunn. Within one year from the time of its organization, eleven 
more members were added. Mr. Hunn, for a considerable period, 
officiated as standing moderator of the church, and preached to the 
congregation a part of the time. The church at an early period 
was connected with the Ontario Association. It was received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Ontario, August 20th, 1822. 
In 1832, it withdrew from its connexion with the Presbytery, and 
from that period has continued independent of all ecclesiastical 
jurisdiction. During its connexion with the Presbytery it adopted 
the Presbyterian form of government and elected ruling elders. 
But as that procedure created dissatisfaction, the church returned 
to its original form of administering discipline. In 1804, the church 
numbered about seventy members. Previous to this date the 
churches of North Bristol, West Bloomfield, and Victor, had been, 
to a considerable extent, formed from it. In 1825, it numbered two 
hundred and forty-five members. Its present number is about two 
hundred. In 1799, Rev. Jedidiah Bushnell, then a licentiate, 
preached here a part of the time. The Lord blessed his labors, and 
a glorious revival was experienced, as the result of which, forty- 
four members were added to the church. At a period, as the 
writer believes, somewhat earlier, Mr. Nathaniel Steele, a licensed 
preacher of the gospel, preached here for a short season, but death 
terminated his labors, and blasted the expectations of the church. 
He was esteemed a man of eminent piety and of much promise. In 
1802, Rev. David Higgins preached a short period and received a 
call for settlement as the pastor of the church ; but the call was 
declined. Rev. Aaron C. Collins, Rev. Ezekiel J. Chapman, 
and Rev. Oliver Aver, officiated as stated supplies ; Mr. Col- 
lins and Mr. Ayer, each for a considerable period. Rev. Darius O. 
Griswold was, after a short period of probation, ordained and in- 
stalled pastor of the church, July 1st, 1812. He was dismissed, 
December 14th, 1814. He was succeeded by Rev. Julius Steele, 
who was ordained and installed pastor, March 13th, 1816. He 
continued in the pastorate till January 21st, 1829, when he was 
dismissed. Rev. Robert W. Hill commenced his labor in January, 
1829, and was installed pastor on the 10th day of September of the 
same year. He still continues in the pastoral office. 

The revival of 1799 has been mentioned. In 1816, there was 
an extensive revival, and another in 1830 and '31. In each of 
these revivals more than one hundred members were added to the 
church. Several other seasons of refreshing have been enjoyed, 
but not of equal extent with the above-mentioned. The church in 
its infancy was fostered by the care of itinerant missionaries, but in 
the support of its stated ministry has never received the aid of any 
Missionary Society. The congregation erected a house of worship 
in 1800, about sixty feet in length and forty-six in breadth, with a 
steeple. It was several years before it was finished. This was the- 



564 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



first house of worship, with the exception of a log edifice in Bristol, 
erected in the Genesee country. Another house nearly of the same 
size, was erected in 18S6, and completed the succeeding year. It 
is estimated that about one-third of the population attend worship 
more or less regularly with this church. There is a small Episco- 
pal society of the straitest sect. 

Victor. — This town was formerly a part of the town of Bloom- 
field. In 1789, Mr. Jared Boughton of Stockbridge (Mass.) came 
to the place, cleared and fenced a field of six acres, and sowed it 
to wheat. On the seventh day of March the next spring, he arrived 
with his family for a permanent residence. This was the first 
family in the town. In 1845, Mr. Boughton and his wife were still 
living, and residents of the town. Several other families of the 
same name and relations came soon after, and settled in the same 
neighborhood, from whom the place was called Boughtontown. 
Deacon Ira Seymour, whose wife was a granddaughter of Presi- 
dent Jonathan Edwards, the elder, was an early settler in the 
town. His widow was still living in 1845. For some time no 
stated public worship was maintained. An occasional sermon 
from an itinerant missionary was all the public w 7 orship enjoyed. 
The first stated public worship which was held, was set up by Mr. 
Jabez Morehouse. It was maintained for a season and then drop- 
ped. Afterwards it was revived again, and Mr. Steele, who was 
mentioned in the next preceding article, preached a part of the 
time till his death. After this event no regular public worship 
was maintained for a season. Some of the inhabitants attended 
worship at East Bloomfield, and a few were members of the 
church in that place. In the autumn of 1798, Rev. Reuben Par- 
mele visited the place, and was invited to labor among them. In 
the winter following he removed his family, and took up his resi- 
dence in the town. On the tenth day of February, 1799, he orga- 
nized a Congregational church, composed of nine members, of 
whom five were males and four females. On the thirteenth day of 
the same month, Mr. Parmele was installed pastor of the church 
by an ecclesiastical council. Rev. Zadoc Hunn, Rev. Seth Willis- 
ton, and Rev. Jedidiah Bushnell, were the ministers who officiated 
on the occasion. The church became connected with the Ontario 
Association during the continuance of that body. It was received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Ontario, Jan. 16th, 1828, hav- 
ing adopted the Presbyterian form of church government. This 
procedure disaffected a number of the members, who formed a 
Congregational church by themselves. This division lasted till 
1832, when the two churches were again united. The church 
after this withdrew from its connexion with the Presbytery, and 
now stands an independent Congregational church. In 1830, it 
numbered forty-three members; in 1834, one hundred and six, and 



PRESBYTERY OF ONTARIO. 



565 



in 1845, over two hundred. Mr. Parmele was dismissed from his 
pastoral charge, Dec. 9th, 1806, but continued to officiate as supply 
a portion of the time till 1812. Rev. Philander Parmele was or- 
dained and installed pastor of the church, May 5th, 1812. He was 
dismissed, Dec. 28th, 1814. Rev. Ebenezer Raymond was ordain- 
ed and installed pastor of the church, Nov. 9th, 1819. He con- 
tinued in the pastoral office till 1826, when he was dismissed. In 
1828, Rev. Daniel Johnson was employed as stated supply, and 
continued till 1S32. Rev. Richard Kay was installed pastor of the 
church, Jan. 3d, 1S33, and was dismissed in 1835. He was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. Jairus Wilcox as stated supply for about one year. 
In March, 1S38, Rev. Charles E. Furman succeeded as stated sup- 
ply, and continued until 1S46. He was succeeded by Rev. Charles 
Merwin, but whether as pastor or stated supply, is not known to 
the writer. 

The organization of the church and the settlement of Mr. Par- 
mele was followed by a season of revival which added a number 
of members to the church. Under the ministry of Mr. Johnson 
there was a measure of revival, and considerable additions made 
to the church. In the beginning of 1837 there was an interesting 
revival, as the fruits of which about forty members were added to 
the church. In the spring of 1843, between sixty and seventy 
members were brought into the church, as the result of a season of 
precious divine influence. There were other seasons of more than 
ordinary attention, during which souls were converted, and addi- 
tions made to the church. The church received aid one year in 
the support of Mr. Johnson from the American Home Missionary 
Society. They have a house of worship which was dedicated in 
1833. In 1S44, it was thoroughly repaired and altered. It is fifty- 
six feet in length and forty in breadth, and will comfortably seat 500 
persons. The Methodist denomination have a house of worship in 
the village, as also the Universalists. The Methodists number 
about as many hearers as the Congregationalists. The Universal- 
ist congregation to a considerable extent is composed of inhabitants 
from adjoining towns. There are some Baptists who attend wor- 
ship in Mendon. It is estimated that one half of the inhabitants of 
the town are in the habit of attending public worship. 

West Bloomfield. — The settlement of this town commenced in 
1786. Col. Peregreen Gardiner's family was the first that fixed 
their residence here. Others came in soon after. Ebenezer Cur- 
tis, Esq., Gen. Amos Hall, Philemon Hall, and several of the name 
of Peck, were among the early settlers. The first inhabitants 
w T ere generally from Granville (Mass.), and Guilford and Lyme 
(Conn.). Public worship was first commenced in 1796 by Mr. 
Elisha Wade, a professor of religion, w r ho moved in that year from 
Lyme. He lived but a short period, and public worship was sus- 



566 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



pended for a season. In 1797, three persons were hopefully con- 
verted and united with the church in East Bloomfield. One of 
these was Samuel Handy, afterwards a deacon in the church. 
Through his instrumentality public worship was revived, and has 
ever since been maintained. The settlement was occasionally 
visited by itinerant missionaries, and to some extent enjoyed the 
labors of Rev. Zadoc Hunn. It shared in the revival of 1799, and 
a number of persons were hopefully converted to God. On the 
sixteenth day of August of that year, a Congregational church, con- 
sisting of nineteen members, was organized by Rev. Messrs. 
Joseph Avery and Jedidiah Bushnell, missionaries from the Eastern 
States. Shortly afterwards four members were received, making 
the church to consist of twenty-three members, of whom seven 
were males, and sixteen females. Samuel Handy was elected 
deacon, and led in public worship when there was no preacher. 
The church was connected with the Ontario Association, and after 
the dissolution of that body was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Geneva on the accommodation plan, Sept. 21st, 1813. 
It was transferred to the Presbytery of Ontario on the formation of 
that body. In 1825, it consisted of one hundred and forty-four 
members ; and in 1834, of one hundred and seventy-six. 

In the month of October, 1801, Rev. James H. Hotchkin, then a 
licentiate, came into the place, and was engaged to preach to the 
congregation one half of the time for a period of about ten months, 
at the close of w T hich he received a call for settlement. He re- 
turned to his friends in the eastern part of the State, and after an 
absence of about three months, during .which period he received 
ordination as an evangelist, he returned to West Bloomfield, ac- 
, cepted the call of the church and congregation, and was installed 
as pastor, May 19th, 1803, by an ecclesiastical council. Mr. Hotch- 
kin continued in the pastorate till March 23d, 1809, when the pas- 
toral relation was dissolved. After the dismission of Mr. Hotch- 
kin, the church was for a season without stated preaching. Rev. 
David Tullar labored in the capacity of stated supply, two or three 
years. In the summer of 1815, Rev. Ebenezer Fitch, D.D., Presi- 
dent of Williams College, in the State of Massachusetts, visited 
the society, preached a few Sabbaths, and received a call for settle- 
ment, which he accepted, and was installed into the pastoral office, 
Nov. 29th, 1815. He continued about twelve years, and was dis- 
missed, August 28, 1827. He was succeeded by Rev. Silas C. 
Brown, who was ordained and installed pastor, April 23d, 1828. 
A considerable number of the members of the church and religious 
society were opposed to the settlement of Mr. Brown. This op- 
position, instead of diminishing, increased in strength and numbers. 
The Society refused Mr. Brown the use of the house of worship, 
and the pastoral relation between Mr. Brown and the congregation 
was dissolved, April 29th, 1830. Still, a large majority of the 



PRESBYTERY OF ONTARIO. 



567 



church were attached to Mr. Brown, and were determined to have 
him for their minister, irrespective of the religious society, which 
held the property of the corporation. They therefore voted him a 
call for settlement, which he accepted, and, on the twenty-fourth 
day of June, in less than two months from the time of his dismis- 
sion, he was re-installed pastor of the church. At the same time, 
forty members of the church, on their request, were, by an act of 
the Presbytery, constituted a separate church, under the care of 
the Presbytery. Mr. Brown continued as pastor of the first 
church, till July 8th, 1835, when he was dismissed. Since the dis- 
mission of Mr. Brown, the church has had one regularly installed 
pastor, Rev. Daniel Gibbs, who was ordained and installed, Sept. 
10th, 1839, and dismissed from his charge, Sept. 17th, 1840. As 
stated supplies, Rev. Eliphalet A. Piatt, Rev. Silas C. Brown, Rev. 
George L. Haskins, and perhaps one or two others, have officiated. 
The church withdrew from its connexion with the Presbytery, and 
its name was stricken from the roll of the Presbytery, Jan. 16th, 
1844. 

The other church, on its request, was dismissed from its con- 
nexion with the Presbytery, August 25th, 1830. In connexion with 
the Religious Society,it employed Rev. William P. Kendrickas stated 
supply, one year. He was followed by Rev. Julius Steele, who supplied 
the pulpit about seven years. Rev. George Clark succeeded Mr. 
Steele one year. After him. Rev. C. R. Clark appears to have 
been a stated supply two years. The number of members received 
into this church after the organization down to July 3d, 1842, was 
one hundred and ninety-seven. The two churches are now united, 
and have Rev. Mr. Fisher as their stated supply. They now con- 
stitute an independent Congregational church. Whether they will 
learn wisdom from their past experience, and in future seek "the 
things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify 
another," time must determine. 

The revival of 1799 paved the way for the organization of this 
church. In the year 1802, while Mr. Hotchkin was preaching as 
stated supply, there was a pleasing revival, by which the church 
was considerably enlarged. During the ministry of Dr. Fitch, 
some seasons of enlargement were enjoyed by the church, and one 
hundred and forty-five members were admitted to the Communion 
of the church, on their profession of faith. After the division of 
the church, for a number of years, very considerable numbers 
were added to both of the churches, but, for several years, the num- 
ber of members has diminished. The building of a house of wor- 
ship was commenced in 1806 or 1807. It was not completed for a 
number of years. The church over which Mr. Brown was pas- 
tor, erected a house of worship in 1831. Within two or three 
years past, the original house, which was much dilapidated, has 
been demolished ; the other house has been given up, and a new 



568 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



and more commodious house erected and completed, which is now 
used by the united congregation. There is a Methodist chapel, 
which was built many years past, but is now unoccupied, and fall- 
ing to decay. The Christians have a house in the village, which is 
statedly occupied. 

Lima. — This town, at the time of its organization, was named 
Charlestown. It was changed to Lima in 1808. The settlement 
of this town began at a very early period, and progressed very 
rapidly. The immigrants were from different parts of the United 
States. Hence there was less uniformity of character belonging 
to them, than in some other places. Rev. Daniel Thatcher, a mis- 
sionary under the appointment of the General Assembly, visited 
the place in 1795, found a few professors of religion, and on the 
thirteenth day of September of that year, formed a Presbyterian 
church consisting of fourteen members. The church commenced 
stated public worship on the Sabbath, and continued it fur about 
two years, when their meetings were broken up by a certain un- 
authorized preacher employed by some of the non-professors of 
religion to preach to them. The church continued in a disorgan- 
ized state till 1799. In that year Rev. Jacob Catlin, a missionary 
from Massachusetts, visited the place, collected the scattered mem- 
bers, and with the addition of some others, reorganized them as a 
Congregational church, seventeen persons uniting in the organiza- 
tion. From this period public worship has been maintained with- 
out interruption. The church was connected with the Ontario 
Association during the continuance of that body, and after its dis- 
solution, it was received under the care of the Presbytery of 
Ontario, June 20th, 1820. Many years since the church returned 
to its first form, and is now a Presbyterian church in full. In 1804, 
it numbered thirty-one members ; in 1825, seventy-nine ; and in 
1836, one hundred and sixty. Its present number is not known to 
the writer. For a number of years the church was favored with 
only occasional preaching. Sometimes a preacher was employed 
for a short season. The writer of these sheets preached to this 
congregation one half of the time for more than six months in the 
year 1802. Rev. Ezekiel J. Chapman was installed pastor of the 
church, Jan. 12th, 1809. He had labored there for some time pre- 
vious. Mr. Chapman continued as pastor several years, but the 
time of his dismission is not recollected by the writer. A circum- 
stance which occurred during the period of Mr. Chapman's minis- 
try in Lima, it may not be amiss to relate, as exhibiting to some 
extent the state of feeling existing between different denominations. 
The subscription to obtain Mr. Chapman's salary was drawn as 
was common in such cases, binding the subscribers to pay annually 
to the trustees of the Society the sums affixed to their names re- 
spectively, so long as Mr. Chapman continued to preach the gospel, 



PRESBYTERY OF ONTARIO. 



569 



as the pastor of the church and society. Some individuals becom- 
ing disaffected refused to pay their subscriptions. A suit was 
brought against them in a civil court, and the cause went to a jury. 
The jury was composed partly of men belonging to the Methodist 
denomination, and partly of men of no religion. The defendant in 
the suit pleaded that he was not liable for his subscription, inasmuch 
as Mr. Chapman preached the doctrine of Election as held by 
Calvinists, and this was not the Gospel. The fact of his so preach- 
ing was proved, and the jury gave a verdict in favor of the de- 
fendant. What ministerial aid was enjoyed in the interval between 
the dismission of Mr. Chapman and the installation of Rev. John 
Barnard, is not known to the writer, nor does he know when Mr. 
Barnard was installed. He supposes that it was in 1819, or near 
that period. He still continues the pastor of the church. Several 
happy periods of revival have been enjoyed by this church, bring- 
ing large accessions to their communion. In 1829, twenty-four 
were reported as having been added on profession the preceding 
year ; in 1832, sixty-two ; and in 1836, sixteen were reported as 
so added. 

This church has always supported its pastor without foreign aid. 
They have a good house of worship, built many years since. The 
Methodist denomination have also a house of worship in the village. 
The Genesee Wesleyan Seminary is located in this village. 

Avon. — The original name of this town was Hartford, which 
was changed to Avon in 1808. The settlement of the town was 
commenced in 1790 by five families from Farmington in Connecti- 
cut, and progressed with rapidity from that time. For near twenty 
years no public worship was established by Congregationalists or 
Presbyterians, nor, as far as the writer knows, by any other de- 
nomination. Many of the leading characters of the town were 
grossly irreligious. On the ninth day of November, 1810, a Con- 
gregational church, composed of twenty members, most of them 
from the New England States, w T as constituted by Rev. Reuben 
Parmele, and two deacons, Samuel Blakeslee and Asa Clark, were 
elected. The church was received under the care of the Presby- 
tery of Ontario on the accommodating plan, Jan. 15th, 1822, and 
adopted in full the Presbyterian form of government, and elected 
ruling elders, March 25th, 1842. In 1825, the number of members 
in the church was seventy-one ; in 1833, one hundred and two ; 
in 1839, one hundred and fifty, which is the highest number ever 
reported. Rev. John F. Bliss was ordained and installed pastor of 
the church by an ecclesiastical council, Feb. 25th, 1812. Mr. Bliss, 
finding his salary inadequate to the support of his family, turned 
his attention to the study of law, and proceeded so far as to prac- 
tise in a few unimportant cases. This step gave great offence to 
the Society, and brought upon it a degree of reproach, which 



570 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



proved highly unfavorable to its prosperity. Mr. Bliss was dis- 
missed in 1818. Rev. John B. Whittlesey, who had previously 
labored for some time with the congregation, was installed pastor, 
Jan. 16th, 1822. He continued his labors with great efficacy and 
acceptance till March 19th, 1829, when the pastoral relation was 
dissolved. Mr. Whittlesey's name is still dear to the congregation 
as that of a faithful, laborious pastor, under whose preaching they 
sat for a longer time than under that of any other minister. From 
May, 1831, to May, 1834, Rev. Jacob Hart officiated as stated 
supply. He was succeeded by Rev. William C. Wisner, who 
continued two years. Rev. Alfred White followed him in Novem- 
ber, 1836, and continued one year. From March, 1838, to July, 
1840, Rev. Edwards Marsh officiated as stated supply. Rev. J. 
Hubbard, Rev. P. C. Hastings, and Rev. E. M. Kellogg, each sup- 
plied for a short period. In September, 1844, Rev. Samuel M. 
Hopkins received a call to the pastorate, and continued to minister 
to the church until July, 1847, when he left, having been appointed 
temporarily to take charge of the department of Ecclesiastical 
History and Church Polity in the Theological Seminary of 
Auburn.* 

Two interesting seasons of revival were enjoyed under Mr. 
Whittlesey's labors, which brought an accession to the church of 
more than fifty members on profession. In 1835, there was an inte- 
resting revival which brought into the church more than forty 
members. Under the labors of Mr. Marsh, the church experienced 
a season of refreshing, and seventeen members were received on 
profession of faith. In December, 1834, seventeen members were 
dismissed to form a new church in Littleville. The writer sup- 
poses that is the church known as Avon Free Church. A church 
edifice constructed of brick was erected, and the outside completed 
in 1812. In this condition it was used as a place of worship for 
several years before it was completed. In 1841, it was somewhat 
improved and modernized. It is much larger than the wants of the 
congregation require. This church has never received aid in the 
support of its ministers from any Missionary Society. There is a 
Baptist house of worship in the village of East Avon, and churches 
of all the leading denominations of Christians are found within the 
town, but all of them feeble. A large proportion of the population 
do not attend worship with any denomination, and desecration of 
the Sabbath is not unfrequent. 

Avon Free Church. — This church, as the author supposes, has 
its location in the village sometimes denominated Littleville, in the 
town of Avon. It was constituted by an act of the Presbytery, 

* While this work is in the press, Mr. Hopkins has been inaugurated as a perma- 
nent Professor in the Seminary. 



PRESBYTERY OF ONTARIO. 



571 



December 25th, 1834, and consisted at the time of its organization 
of twenty members, seventeen of whom were taken from the First 
Church of Avon. In 1836, it numbered one hundred, and fourteen 
members. This is the latest enumeration which the writer finds on 
record. Rev. Hezekiah B. Pierpont was installed pastor of the 
church, Feb. 18th, 1836, and continued in the station till August 
25th, 1841. What ministerial aid the church has since enjoyed is 
not known to the writer. In 1846, a blessed revival and ingather- 
ing of souls was granted. Seventy-seven were added to the 
church on profession. The church was aided by the American 
Home Missionary Society during the pastorate of Mr. Pierpont. 
An appropriate house of worship was erected in 1835. 

York Second Church. — The location of this church is at the 
place called Fowlersville, in the northern part of the town of York. 
Its first notice is on the minutes of the Presbytery of Ontario, Au- 
gust 25th, 1829. Rev. John Eastman was then stated supply. 
In 1831 it is reported as consisting of twenty-one members, and in 
1836, of sixty-three. Mr. Eastman continued to officiate as stated 
supply till 1832 or '33. Rev. Robert Hubbard was reported as 
stated supply in 1834, and the next three years Rev. Beaufort Ladd. 
Rev. John P. Foster was ordained and installed pastor of the 
church, September 21st, 1842. The pastoral relation was dissolved, 
January 30th, 1844. Mention of some religious interest in this 
church is made on the minutes of the Presbytery in 1841. The 
church has never received aid from the American Home Missionary 
Society. 

York First Church. — This church is first noticed on the records 
of the Presbytery of Ontario, October 14th, 1828. Rev. Johnson 
Baldwin was then stated supply. In 1830, it numbered fifty-five 
members; in 1836, one hundred and sixty-six; and in 1840, one 
hundred and sixty. This is the last enumeration known to the 
writer. Rev. Johnson Baldwin was its stated supply as early as 
the year 1826, and continued to the close of 1828. He was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. John B. Whittlesey, who was installed as pastor, 
November 18th, 1830, and continued till January 15th, 1833, when 
he was dismissed. In 1836, Rev. John H. Carle was reported as 
the stated supply, and the next year Rev. Caleb Burge. Rev. Silas 
C. Brown was installed pastor, January 23d, 1828, and officiated 
till May 5th, 1841, when he was dismissed from his charge. In 
1832, forty-five members were reported as having been added, by 
profession, to the church during the preceding year, indicating that 
the church had been visited with a gracious effusion of the Holy 
Spirit. In the support of Messrs. Johnson and Whittlesey the 
church was assisted a number of years by the American Home 



572 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Missionary Society. They have an appropriate house of worship, 
which was erected in 1830. 

Moscow. — This village is situated in the town of Leicester. At 
what period the church was organized is not. known to the writer. 
It is first noticed on the records of the Presbytery of Ontario, as a 
church under its care, June 16th, 1818. On its request it was dis- 
missed to connect with the Presbytery of Wyoming (Old School), 
Jan. 22d, 1845. In 1829 the church consisted of thirty members; 
in 1834, of seventy-three ; and in 1846, of eighty-four. The church 
seems never to have had a regularly installed pastor during the pe- 
riod of its connexion with the Presbytery of Ontario. As stated 
supplies at different periods, Rev. Messrs. Samuel T. Mills, Amos 
P. Brown, John Walker, Stephen Porter, H. Reddington, and 
Ebenezer H. Stratton, have been engaged. In 1846, Rev. John 
W. M'Donald was reported by the Presbytery of Wyoming as the 
pastor. From the reports from time to time of the number of mem- 
bers, it does not appear that this church has ever been blessed with 
an extended revival. They were assisted by the American Home 
Missionary Society in the support of Messrs. Mills, Brown, Walker, 
and Stratton. The church has an appropriate house of worship in 
the village. 

Geneseo. — The town of Geneseo, when first organized, included 
all that part of the State of New York which lies west of the Pre- 
emption line. It is now reduced to a tow T nship of about six miles 
square. The settlement was commenced in 1790, by William and 
James Wadsworth, from Connecticut. A church of the Presbyte- 
rian order was organized in 1795, by Rev. Daniel Thatcher, a mis- 
sionary of the General Assembly. This church has succession in 
the church of Lakeville. It originally extended over the whole 
town of Geneseo, and its principal place of worship was in a build- 
ing called the Academy, which stood on the high ground a little back 
of the village of Geneseo. In 1809 a number of the members of 
the church who were emigrants from Connecticut, being dissatisfied 
with the order of the church and its pastor, requested letters of dis- 
mission in order to form a Congregational church. Their case was 
brought before the Presbytery of Geneva, and on the advice of that 
body their request was granted, and they were subsequently orga- 
nized as a Congregational church, by Rev. Daniel Oliver, a mis- 
sionary from Massachusetts. The writer believes the number of 
members at the time of organization was about twenty. This is 
the church which has succession in the present church of Geneseo, 
known on the reports of the Presbytery as Geneseo Second Church. 
It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, on the 
accommodating plan, April 19th, 1814, and was transferred to the 
Presbytery of Ontario on the organization of that body. In 1817 



PRESBYTERY OF ONTARIO. 



573 



or '18, it adopted the Presbyterian form of government in full. In 
1825 it numbered ninety-two members. The next year it had in- 
creased to one hundred and ninety-one. In 1836 the number was 
two hundred and thirty-four. This is the last enumeration which 
the writer has seen. Rev. Abraham Forman was ordained and in- 
stalled pastor of the church, July 12th, 1817. The relation was 
dissolved Nov. 17th, 1819. Rev. Norris Bull was ordained and in- 
stalled pastor, June 19th, 1822. He continued to sustain the re- 
lation about ten years, and was dismissed July 3d, 1832. Rev. 
John C. Lord was installed pastor, July 31st, 1834, and was dis- 
missed Oct. 28th, 1835. Rev. John N. Lewis was installed into 
the pastorate, Oct. 3d, 1838, and was dismissed from his charge 
April 5th, 1841. Rev. Benjamin B. Stockton was installed pastor 
Nov. 8th, 1843, and still continues in the office. This church has 
been repeatedly watered with the dews from on high, and abun- 
dantly enlarged in her members. In 1826 one hundred and thirteen 
members were reported to have been received to her communion 
within the preceding year. This must have been the result of a 
powerful work of the Holy Spirit. In 1831 thirty, and in J 832 
thirty-two, were reported as the number of additions by profession 
in those years respectively. From 1834 to 1836, the church had 
increased sixty-two in number, indicating that God had visited his 
people. This church has always supported its pastors without mis- 
sionary aid. It has an appropriate house of worship, built many 
years since. The Methodists and Episcopalians also have organi- 
zations and houses of worship in the village. 

Lakeville. — This is a small village situated at the foot of Conesus 
lake, in the town of Livonia, adjacent to the line which divides it 
from the town of Geneseo. The neighborhood was first settled by 
three men and their families, who, in the month of August, 1792, 
removed from Northumberland county, in the State of Pennsylva- 
nia. They were of Irish descent, and of very respectable charac- 
ter. Some of them were connected with the Presbyterian church 
in Pennsylvania, and all felt some interest in religious institutions. 
As a consequence, social worship was commenced almost immedi- 
ately. In the autumn of 1795 Rev. Daniel Thatcher organized- a 
church, consisting of twelve members. The church was organized 
on strict Presbyterian principles, and ruling elders were elected 
and ordained. The church seems to have been connected with the 
Presbytery of Geneva at the first meeting of that body, Sept. 17th, 
1805, and was transferred to the Presbytery of Ontario when that 
body was organized. In 1825 the church reported thirty-two mem- 
bers ; in 1836, one hundred and fifty-five ; and in 184(5, it numbered 
about one hundred and eighty. The church enjoyed only occa- 
sional ministerial labor till about the commencement of 1806. On 
the twenty-ninth day of January, of that year, Rev. John Lindsley 



574 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



was installed pastor of the church by the Presbytery of Geneva. 
He continued in the station between eleven and twelve years, being 
dismissed from his pastoral charge July 1st, 1817. 

The first members of the church were all, or nearly all, Presby- 
terians from the south. Afterwards a number of professors of the 
Congregational order came in from the eastern States. These 
were attached to the order in which they had been educated. In 
order that they might coalesce in one church, and unite in the sup- 
port of the same minister, the elders of the church resigned their 
offices. The Plan of Union, adopted by the General Assembly of 
the Presbyterian Church, and the General Association of the State 
of Connecticut, w r as adopted by the church, and a standing com- 
mittee of discipline, composed of an equal number of members 
from both parties, was chosen to transact the discipline of the 
church. This transaction occurred, according to the writer's best 
recollection, soon after the settlement of Mr. Lindsley. But the 
measure was not attended with success The parties did not har- 
monize in feeling and action. The Congregationalists were not 
pleased with Mr. Lindsley. They asked, and obtained letters of 
dismission, and organized another church, as has been stated in the 
next preceding article. After this event the first church returned 
to its original form of Presbyterian order. Previous to the division 
of the church the congregation was scattered over the whole town 
of Geneseo. The principal place of worship was at, or near the 
village of Geneseo, in a building denominated the Academy. But 
after the division the First church (the church of Lakeville) retired 
to the neighborhood of their present place of worship, and the 
congregation at the present time is nearly equally divided between 
the towns of Geneseo and Livonia. Mr. Lindsley continued to 
reside in Geneseo some years after his dismission, and then re- 
moved to Nunda in the county of Allegany, where he died several 
years since at an advanced age. In 1788, we find him a licentiate 
of the Presbytery of New York. In 1794, he was at Gal way, in 
the county of Saratoga, and a member of the Presbytery of Albany, 
made such by the division of the Presbytery of New York. In 
1802, he was at Ovid, and one of the ministers set off from the 
Presbytery of Albany to form the Presbytery of Oneida. In 1805, 
without any change of location, he was with others set off from 
the Presbytery of Oneida to form the Presbytery of Geneva, and 
at Geneseo in 1817, we find him with others set off from the Pres- 
bytery of Ontario, in connexion with which he died. Thus it 
appears that he had lived in various and distant parts of the State 
of New York, had been a member of five different Presbyteries, 
had never broken away from any one, and at the same time had 
never been dismissed in the ordinary way from either of the Pres- 
byteries with which he had been connected. 

Since Mr. Lindsley's dismission the church has never had a re- 



PRESBYTERY OF ONTARIO. 



575 



gularly installed pastor. For some considerable period the church 
seems to have been destitute of stated preaching. For about two 
years and a half from the spring of 1824, Rev. Silas Pratt preached 
to this people one fourth of the time. From the spring of 1827, 
Rev. Horace Galpin was stated supply for a little more than four 
years. Rev. Elijah Wallage supplied about one year. Rev. Merrit 
Harmon commenced labor in the fall of 1832, and continued ten 
years. He was immediately succeeded by Rev. Sidney S. Brown, 
who continued between two and three years. In May, 1845, Rev. 
Charles Richards commenced labor, and still continues. In 1828, 
the church was blessed with a revival, as the fruit of which about 
thirty individuals were received to its communion. In 1834, the 
converting influences of the Holy Spirit were again poured out, 
and about sixty were added to the church. In 1840, about thirty 
were added as the result of a revival, and in 1844, another addition 
of about forty members was made. Other season^ of some interest 
have occurred. 

The church was aided two or three years in the support of Mr. 
Galpin by the American Home Missionary Society. They have a 
house of worship, built in 1824 ; but it is small and inconvenient. 
The Presbyterian denomination is at present the most prominent in 
the place. Several Methodist classes are found in the vicinity. 
There is a Baptist house of worship in the neighborhood, and a 
small church who worship in it. The Universalists also have a house 
of worship, but their number is small. The Christians are some- 
what more numerous. They have a church edifice. But their, 
influence seems to be on the wane. A large class of the inhabitants 
do not attend worship with any denomination. 

Livonia. — This town was originally connected with Richmond, 
and the name of the town was Pittstown. In 1808, it was orga- 
nized as a town with its present name. The settlement of it was 
commenced at an early period. At what period public worship was 
set up is not known to the author. In 1803, Rev. John Rolph re- 
sided in the place, and sometimes preached to the people who were 
disposed to attend on his ministrations. In the winter of 1804-5, a 
Mr. Lane, who had been a licensed Methodist preacher in Eng- 
land, but who had no ecclesiastical connexion in America, preached 
here a part of the time. How long his labors were continued is 
not recollected. In the year 1806, a Congregational church deno- 
minated the Second Church in Pittstown, was organized, which 
was received into connexion with the Ontario Association, Jan. 
14th, 1807. Some time after the dissolution of the Association, the 
church adopted the Presbyterian plan of church government, and 
elected ruling elders. The church was received under the care of 
the Presbytery of Geneva, July 7th, 1813, and was transferred to 
the Presbytery of Ontario on the organization of that body. In 



576 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



1825, the church numbered one hundred and two members, and in 
1836, one hundred and sixty. This is the latest enumeration that 
the author has seen. In the early period of the history of this 
church, Rev. Aaron C. Collins labored with them as stated supply 
for a part of the time, eight years. In 1825, the church was report- 
ed as vacant ; the next two years as statedly supplied. Rev. 
Jeremiah Stowe was installed pastor, April 30th, 1828, and con- 
tinued in the pastorate till his death in 1833. He was succeeded 
by Rev. Justus S. Hough, who was installed pastor, Feb. 13th, 
1834. He continued somewhat more than six years, and was dis- 
missed, April 29th, 1840. The present pastor, Rev. Benjamin G. 
Riley, was inducted into the office, March 23d, 1843. In 1831, 
thirty-one members were reported as added by profession to the 
church during the preceding year. This is the greatest number 
added in any one year which the author has found. The church 
has ever supported its own minister without foreign aid, and it has 
an appropriate house of worship. 

Richmond. — This town and Livonia were at an early period or- 
ganized as a town by the name of Pittstown. In 1808, the town 
was divided. The western half was named Livonia, and the eastern, 
Honeoye. The latter name has since been changed to Richmond. 
The settlement of the town was commenced at the foot of Honeoye 
lake, by Capt. Peter Pitts from Dighton (Mass.), in 1790. His 
family was the only family in the village for three years. After 
this the settlement progressed with considerable rapidity by immi- 
grants from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Rev. 
Samuel Mills preached the first sermon ever delivered in this 
place in 1792. After the arrival of Rev. Zadoc Hunn in 1795, he 
was employed by Capt. Pitts and his sons to preach in his settle- 
ment one eighth of the time till his death. When there was no 
preacher public worship was observed, but not constantly, until 
Deacon Nathaniel Harmon from Vermont moved into the town in 
1798. From that period public worship has been steadily main- 
tained. In the revival of 1799 this place shared in a small degree. 
A few individuals were hopefully converted to God. A Congre- 
gational church, consisting of eleven members, was organized by 
Rev. Joseph Grover and Rev. Jacob Cram, Nov. 4th, 1801. On 
the succeeding Sabbath, three others were united to them. The 
church was received into connexion with the Ontario Association, 
June 14th, 1803. After the dissolution of the Association, the 
church became Presbyterian in its mode of government, and was 
taken under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, Sept. 21st, 1813, 
and on the organization of the Presbytery of Ontario was assigned 
to that body. In 1843, the church returned to its original mode of 
government, and withdrew from its connexion with the Presbytery. 
Its name was stricken from the roll of churches belonging to the 



PRESBYTERY OF ONTARIO. 



577 



Presbytery, August 27th, 1844. The church in 1825 included one 
hundred and six members ; in 1832, one hundred and fifty-four 
members ; and in 1837, one hundred and twenty-one. This is 
the last enumeration which the author has seen. After the organi- 
zation of the church, Rev. Ahijah Warren was their stated supply 
one fourth part of the time for a season. On the thirteenth day of 
June, 1810, Rev. Aaron C. Collins was installed pastor of the 
church by the Ontario Association. He had previously ministered 
to the church for a season. His labors were divided between this 
church and that of Livonia. The pastoral relation was dissolved, 
August 14th, 1816. Rev. Warren Day was ordained and installed 
pastor of the church, March 2d, 1819, and continued till Oct. 28th, 
1828, when he was dismissed from his charge. Mr. Day was im- 
mediately succeeded by Rev. Orange Lyman, and he by Rev. Asa 
Lyman, each of whom officiated two years as stated supply. Rev. 
Hezekiah B. Pierpont followed as stated supply six months. The 
next in succession was Rev. Jacob Burbank, who was installed 
pastor, Feb. 20th, 1824, and was dismissed, Jan. 21st, 1835. Rev. 
Linus W. Billington was installed as pastor, Nov. 11th, 1835. His 
dismission took place May 5th, 1841. Rev. Mr. Benedict, Rev. 
Mr. Chichester, and Rev. Sydney Mills in succession officiated as 
stated supplies till July, 1845, when Rev. Warren Day was again 
employed as a stated supply, and still continues to officiate in that 
capacity. 

Several seasons of refreshing from on high have been enjoyed by 
this church, in consequence of which accessions were made to her 
numbers. In the year 1817, fifty ; in 1827, thirty-seven ; and in 
1831, fifty-nine members were added to the church, mostly by 
profession. These were years of revival the most distinguished in 
the annals of Richmond. There were other seasons of special inte- 
rest which brought accessions to the church, but in smaller numbers. 
In 1828 or '29, several members were dismissed to form the church 
of South Richmond. A number of members seceded from the 
church a few years since, and with seceders from other denomina- 
tions, formed an independent church on ultra-abolition principles. 
It has its location in the village of Honeoye. 

The church of Richmond has never received foreign aid in sup- 
porting its ministers. It has a house of worship, the audience-room 
of which is forty-four feet square. It was erected during Mr. 
Collins's pastorate, but was not completed and dedicated till the 
close of the year 1818. The average number of attendants on 
public worship is about one hundred. Besides the Independent 
Abolitionist Church at the village of Honeoye, the Protestant Me- 
thodists have a small society, and a house of worship in that village. 
At Allen's Hill a few meet in the Episcopal house of worship, to 
attend upon a lay service. In the south-western quarter of the 
town is a house of worship owned by the Baptist Church, in which 

37 



578 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



one sermon on each Sabbath is usually preached. In the eastern 
part of the town is a house of worship belonging to the Methodist 
denomination, in which services are not often held. But a small 
part of the inhabitants of the town are in the habit of attending pub- 
lic worship. 

Bristol. — This township was originally purchased of Messrs. 
Phelps and Gorham in 1789, by a company in Dighton, Mass. 
William Goodwin, one of the company, moved his family into the 
place in 1790. He was the first settler, a man of eminent piety, 
and afterwards a deacon in the church. Some others came in the 
same year, and soon a considerable settlement was formed. The 
early settlers were from Dighton, Mass., and Hartland, Conn. 
Public worship commenced with the settlement. No church Was 
formed for some time, but the professors of religion united with 
the church of East Bloomfield. Rev. Zadoc Hunn established him- 
self on a farm in the western part of the town of Canandaigua adja- 
cent to the settlement in Bristol, in 1795, and frequently preached 
in the settlement. In the early part of the year 1799, a Congre- 
gational church, consisting of about twenty members, was organ- 
ized by Mr. Hunn, assisted by Rev. Seth Williston, missionary. 
The same year, perhaps somewhat earlier than the organization of 
the church, the Spirit was poured out in an abundant measure on this 
region of country, and Bristol received a copious shower. The 
church became connected with the Ontario Association at its first 
meeting, and after the dissolution of that body remained for a num- 
ber of years independent. In 1823, it was received under the care 
of the Presbytery of Ontario, on the accommodating plan. In 1844, 
it withdrew from this connexion, and its name was stricken from 
the roll of churches uuder the care of the Presbytery. It is now 
an independent Congregational church. The church in 1804 num- 
bered seventy-eight members ; in 1825, sixty-eight ; in 1834, one 
hundred and fifty ; and in 1836, one hundred and twenty-five. This 
is the last enumeration which the author has seen. Soon after the 
organization of the church, Rev. Joseph Grover, an elderly mis- 
sionary from New Jersey, visited the place, preached several Sab- 
baths, and received a call for settlement as the pastor of the 
church. This call he accepted ; in the winter moved on his family, 
and was installed by the Ontario Association, pastor of the church, 
June 11th, 1800. Mr. Grover continued to perform the active 
duties of the pastoral office about fourteen years, when, on account 
of age, attended with blindness and other bodily infirmities, his ac- 
tual services and his salary ceased, though he remained for a num- 
ber of years to the time of his decease, the nominal pastor of the 
church. Rev. Ezekiel J. Chapman was installed pastor, or rather 
colleague pastor of the church, October 13th, 1814. The relation 
■ between him and the church was dissolved, March 30th, 1820, and 



PRESBYTERY OF ONTARIO. 



579 



for a year or two the church appears to have been vacant. It was 
then supplied for a season by Rev. Archy B. Lawrence. He was 
succeeded by Rev. Ebenezer Raymond in October, 1824, who 
continued as stated supply till about the commencement of the year 
1830. In the spring of 1830, Rev. William P. Jackson, then a 
licentiate, commenced labor as a stated supply and continued be- 
tween one and two years. He was followed by Rev. Edwin 
Bronson, for one year, and he by Rev. Mr. Bryson, for a few 
months. Mr. Jackson returned to the church, and was ordained 
and installed as pastor, Feb. 19th, 1834. The pastoral relation was 
dissolved August 23d, 1836. Rev. Eliphalet A. Piatt succeeded 
him, and continued his ministration till April, 1841. He was suc- 
ceeded by Mr. Hiram Harris, a licentiate of the Presbytery of 
Geneva, who continued two years. Soon after Mr. Harris's depar- 
ture, the church employed a Mr. Winchester to preach to them. 
How long he continued is not known to the writer. When he 
commenced he had no license from any ecclesiastical body. He 
was very diligent, and, it is said, successful in inculcating the doc- 
trines of the Oberlin School, and openly controverted the doctrines 
of the Confession of Faith on which the church was founded. The 
church is now supplied by Rev. Timothy Stowe, who commenced 
his labors in 1846. 

During the period of Messrs. Grover and Chapman's labors, 
there were repeated seasons of ingathering of souls, and additions 
made to the church. During the first period of Mr. Jackson's la- 
bors, what has been called in Bristol the "great revival" took 
place. More than one hundred members were added to the church 
as the result of it. But the numerous cases of discipline which 
have since occurred, give sad evidence that there was much chaff 
with the wheat. Near the close of Mr. Piatt's labors a precious 
revival was enjoyed, as the result of which about fifty members 
were added to the church. 

The first edifice exclusively for the worship of God in the Gene- 
see country was erected by this church. It was a log-building, 
constructed of unhewn logs, raised to a sufficient height to admit 
of a gallery, ^and furnished with a very plain desk and seats. It 
was probably erected in 1799 or 1800, and stood a little south of the 
place where the road to Canandaigua parts from that which leads 
to Bloomfield. The present house of worship was erected in 1814, 
and dedicated on the same day on which Mr. Chapman was in- 
stalled. The church has a fund for the support of the ministry, 
arising from the legacy of George Codding, Esq., producing about 
$150 per annum, but the Society has become so depressed by the 
influence of Oberlinism, ultra-Abolitionism, and other causes, as 
to be barely able, even with the aid of the fund, to raise a salary 
of $400 for their minister. In 1804, this was the largest church, 
and its circumstances the most promising of any Congregational or 



580 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Presbyterian church, and, it may probably be said, of any other 
denomination in the Genesee country. In contemplating its pre- 
sent state and influence on the cause of Christ, we are ready to ex- 
claim, " How has the gold become dim, and the fine gold changed /" 

South Bristol. — This township, or at least a considerable part of 
it, was, at an early day, purchased of Messrs. Phelps and Gorham, 
by Gamaliel Wilder, Esq., and several associates, and the settle- 
ment by these immediately commenced. They were from Hart- 
land (Conn.). Rev. John Rolph moved his family into the place, 
probably, in 1796. He is supposed to have come on an invitation 
from the inhabitants. With the aid of Rev. Zadoc Hunn, he or- 
ganized a Congregational church, consisting of ten members, in 
December, 1796. Gamaliel Wilder, Esq., and Ephraim Wilder, 
Esq., were of the number. . In January, 1797, Mr. Rolph was in- 
stalled pastor of the church, by an ecclesiastical council, consisting 
of Rev. Zadoc Hunn, Rev. Eliphalet Sceele, of Paris, and Rev. 
Asahel S. Norton, D.D., of Clinton, Oneida county. This was the 
first instance of the regular settlement of a minister in the Genesee 
country. The church became connected with the Ontario Associa- 
tion, on the organization of that body, and after its dissolution was 
received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, on the ac- 
commodation plan, August 13th, 1816. On the organization of the 
Presbytery of Ontario it was transferred to that body. Oct. 9th, 
1800, Mr. Rolph was dismissed by an ecclesiastical council. He 
was a man of violent temper, and became involved in a contro- 
versy with some of his parishioners, which terminated in his dismis- 
sion. Some years afterwards he was deposed from the ministry. 
In the latter part of the year 1802, Rev. Ahijah Warren, then a 
licensed preacher, came into the place and was employed to preach 
for a season. As the result he was ordained and installed as pastor, 
Feb. 3d, 1803. He was dismissed from his pastoral charge, June 
12th, 1805. Since this period no pastor has ever been installed. 
Rev. Aaron C. Collins supplied for a season ; Rev. Andrew Raw- 
son, several years ; Rev. Benjamin B. Smith, one or two years, and 
others for short periods. But for a number of years the church 
has been without preaching, and their house of worship has been 
vacated. During the period of Mr. Smith's ministry, ruling elders 
were elected, and the Presbyterian form of government adopted. 
As the result of the revival of 1799, ten members were received 
into the church. During the ministry of Mr. Warren a number 
were received. But the church has never been prosperous. In 
1825, it reported but twelve members, and in 1830, but eighteen. 
From that time it has continually declined, and at the present 
period may be considered virtually extinct. The members who 
remain attend worship at North Bristol. 



PRESBYTERY OF ONTARIO. 



581 



Canadice. — This church was formed from the church of Rich- 
mond in 1828 or '29. It was enrolled as a church under the care 
of the Presbytery of Ontario, August 25th, 1829. It was then de- 
nominated the church of South Richmond, or Richmond Second 
Church. In 1832, it took the name of Canadice. It was reported 
by the Presbytery from year to year as vacant. No number of 
members was ever reported. It never flourished, but continually 
declined. Most of the members removed to Ohio ; some joined 
the Episcopal Methodists, and the number became so reduced, that 
the church was dissolved by the Presbytery, Jan. 15th, 1839. 

Conesus. — All the information that the writer has respecting this 
church, is that it was organized by a committee of the Presbytery 
of Ontario, Nov. 14th, 1831 ; received under the care of the Pres- 
bytery, Jan. 11th, 1832; reported as vacant from year to year ; 
and dissolved, March 9th, 1839. 

Groveland. — Of this church the writer has very little information. 
It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Ontario, Jan. 
20th, 1819. In 1825, it reported forty-five members ; in 1857, 
sixty-four; in 1837, one hundred and thirty-one. It was reported 
as vacant in 1825 and '28, and as furnished with a stated sup- 
ply in 1826, '27, '29, and '30. Rev. Isaac Crabb was ordained and 
installed pastor of the church, March 9th, 1831, and was dismissed 
from his charge, Aug. 28th, 1833. From that year down to 1837, 
the church is reported as being statedly supplied. In 1832, fifty- 
one members are reported as having been received on profession 
the preceding year, indicating that in the blessed effusions of the 
Holy Spirit which were so general in that memorable year, the 
church of Groveland had not been overlooked. The division of 
the Presbyterian church which followed the exscinding act of the 
General Assembly of 1837, resulted in the division of the church 
of Groveland. The majority of the church seceded from the 
Presbytery of Ontario, and became connected with the Presbytery 
of Steuben (Old School). A part of the members chose to remain 
in connexion with the Presbytery of Ontario. Under these circum- 
stances the Presbytery, May 3d, 1842, passed the following re- 
solution, viz. "Resolved, that the members of the church of Grove- 
land who adhere to the Presbytery of Ontario, remain the 
regularly constituted church of Groveland, and a constituent part 
of this body." What has been the history of the churches since 
the division is not known to the writer. The church, connected 
with the Presbytery of Steuben, numbered, in 1846, one hundred 
and twenty-one members. 

Mount Morris. — In the autumn of 1815, the author was at the 
village of Mount Morris. It was then a small village newly com- 



582 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



menced. A church consisting of a few members had been formed, 
which worshipped in a commodious school-house, and had Mr. 
Stephen M. Wheelock, a licentiate, preaching to them. The church 
was received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, Feb. 
12th, 1817, and at the organization of the Presbytery of Ontario, 
was assigned to that body. It numbered in 1825, one hundred and 
twenty-nine members, and in 1836, two hundred and sixty-seven. 
At what period Mr. Wheelock terminated his labors with the 
church is not known to the writer. Rev. Silas Pratt was ordained 
and installed its pastor, May 8th, 1817, and was dismissed, April 
9th, 1818. In 1821, Rev. B." Foster Pratt is found to have been 
laboring here. His labors were continued till near the close of 
1825. Rev. William Lyman, D.D., officiated as stated supply one 
year from June, 1826, and Rev. James McMaster one year from 
August, 1828. In 1834, the name of Rev. George W. Elliott is 
found on the report of the Presbytery as stated supply to this 
church. Rev. Clark H. Goodrich was installed pastor of the 
church, Jan. 19th, 1837. The pastoral relation was dissolved, 
August 3d, 1838, and on the twenty-ninth day of the same month, 
Mr. Goodrich was deposed from the ministry, and excommunicated 
from the church. Rev. Cyrus Hudson was installed as pastor, 
Sept. 10th, 1840. He was dismissed, as the writer believes, in 
1846, and was succeeded by Rev. C. H. A. Buckley. Under the 
ministry of Rev. B. F. Pratt, in 1821 and '22, a plentiful shower of 
divine grace was poured out upon this congregation, and as its 
fruits more than eighty members were added to the church, in- 
creasing it to three times its previous number. The years 1834 
and '35 seem to have been years of revival, as the result of which 
the number of members in the church was increased by more than 
seventy. The writer has no report of the number of members 
later than 1837. It was then two hundred and fifty-four. In the 
support of Rev. B. F. Pratt the church was aided by the United 
Domestic Missionary Society ; in the support of Dr. Lyman and 
Mr. McMaster by the American Home Missionary Society. The 
church has an appropriate house of worship. The Episcopal, 
Methodist, and Baptist denominations have each a house of worship 
in the village. 

Mount Morris Second Church. — The place of meeting of this 
church is in a small village denominated Tuscarora, in the town of 
Sparta. The settlement was commenced in 1822-'23, by Messrs. 
Culver, Babcock, and Coulkins. A church consisting of eleven 
members of the Reformed Dutch order was organized by Rev. 
Israel Hammond in 1839. The church was organized as a Presby- 
terian church, and named the Second Presbyterian Church of 
Mount Morris, Feb. 26th, 1846. The number of members in 
November of that year was thirty-six. The church was received 



PRESBYTERY OF ONTARIO. 



583 



under the care of the Presbytery of Ontario, June 2d, 1846. Rev. 
Israel Hammond was five years the pastor of the church, while it 
was connected with the Reformed Dutch denomination, and during 
this period the church was aided in the support of its pastor by the 
Synod's Board of Missions. In the spring of 1844, Rev. Peter S. 
Van Nest commenced labor as a stated supply, and at the last in- 
formation of the writer still continued in that capacity. An inter- 
esting revival under the labors of Rev. Edwards Marsh, was 
enjoyed in the spring of 1844. The church has a good house of 
worship, fifty feet in length and thirty-six in breadth, erected in 
1834. There is a Methodist Society in the place, but it is feeble. 
About one half of the population attend public worship. Previous 
to the organization of the church above noted, there was a church 
denominated the Second Presbyterian Church of Mount Morris, 
which was organized in the latter part of 1830, or early part of 
1831. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Onta- 
rio, Jan. 18th, 1831. In 1830, it numbered twenty-eight members, 
and in 1834, thirty-two. It was reported by the Presbytery from 
year to year as statedly supplied till 1840. Whether the two 
churches are in any way identified, or whether the former has 
become extinct, or left its connexion with the Presbytery, is not 
known to the author. 

Nunda. — The settlement of this town was commenced within 
the present century. The present church of Nunda was organized 
with eleven members in 1831 or '32, and was received under the 
care of the Presbytery of Angelica, Feb. 28th, 1832. By act of 
the Synod, it was transferred to the Presbytery of Ontario, Oct. 
9th, 1844. In 1834, it reported one hundred and twenty-one mem- 
bers, and in 1843, three hundred and seventy. This is the last 
enumeration which the writer has seen. Rev. Asa Johnson was 
installed pastor of the church, Feb. 26th, 1834. He was dismissed 
Sept. 14th, 1837. Rev. Wales Tileston was installed to the pas- 
toral office, April 18th, 1838, and dismissed May 13th, 1840. From 
this period till 1846, the writer is not informed what supplies were 
enjoyed. Rev. Edwards Marsh was inducted into the pastorate, 
June 2d, 1846, and still continues. In 1834, a protracted meeting 
was held, conducted by Mr. Littlejohn, which brought an accession 
to the church of more than fifty members. A revival in 1840 re- 
sulted in the addition of between seventy and eighty, and another 
in 1843, added seventy-seven members to the church. In the sup- 
port of Mr. Johnson the church received aid from the American 
Home Missionary Society. They have a house of worship which 
was completed in 1834. 

Sparta. — The settlement of this town was commenced at an 
early period. Many of the early settlers were from Pennsylvania, 



584 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



and some of them of Scotch origin. A Presbyterian church de- 
nominated Dansville and Sparta, was organized in 1819 or the 
early part of 1820. It afterwards was called Sparta First Church, 
and was received under the care of the Presbytery of Ontario, 
Feb. 8th, 1820. In 1825, this church reported thirty-one members ; 
the next year but nineteen. The diminution was caused, as ths 
writer supposes, by the division of the church to form another. In 
1832, sixty-one members were reported ; in 1837, ninety- five ; and 
in 1846, one hundred and three. Rev. Amos P. Brown was installed 
pastor of the church, August 24th, 1831, and the pastoral relation 
was dissolved, August 28th, 1833. Rev. Thomas Aitkin is the 
present pastor of the church. These are the only pastors whose 
labors the church has enjoyed. It has generally been reported as 
statedly supplied ; but by whom does not appear. The author's 
information is defective. After the exscinding act of the General 
Assembly in 1837, this church became connected with the Presby- 
tery of Steuben (Old School), and its name was stricken from the 
roll of churches belonging to the Presbytery of Ontario. 

Sparta Second Church. — This church was formed by a division 
of the First Presbyterian Church of Sparta, in accordance with a 
resolution of the Presbytery of Ontario, allowing the members'of 
the church of Sparta who resided in Dansville, to be formed into a 
distinct church. The church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery, August 23d, 1825. In 1830 the church consisted of 
twenty- five members; and in 1836, of seventy-four. The church 
has never enjoyed the labors of a regularly settled pastor, and seems 
to have been always in a feeble condition. As stated supplies, the 
names of Rev. Messrs. Amos P. Brown, Ludovicus Rcbbins, and 
Lemuel Hall are found. Of the history of the church since 1836, 
the writer has no knowledge. It was assisted in the support of 
Messrs. Brown and Robbins by the American Home Missionary 
Society. 

Dansville Village. — The settlement of this village and its imme- 
diate vicinity commenced at a quite early period. The settlers 
were Yankees, Pennsylvanians, and Germans, between whom there 
was very little affinity, and the institutions of religion were for a 
long time almost totally neglected, and irreligion prevailed. A 
Presbyterian church, consisting of eleven members, was organized 
March 25th, 1825, by Rev. Messrs. James H. Hotchkin, Robert 
Hubbard, and Stalham Clary. The church was received under the 
care of the Presbytery of Bath, August 30th, of the same year, and 
was transferred by an act of the General Assembly to the Presby- 
tery of Ontario, June 2d, 1826. At that period it numbered thirty- 
two members; in 1832, one hundred and fifty; and in 1837, one 
hundred and seventy-one. Since that period the author has no in- 



PRESBYTERY OF ONTARIO. 



585 



formation. For a number of 3^ears Rev. Robert Hubbard officiated 
as stated supply. Rev. Elam H. Walker was ordained and installed 
pastor of the church Oct. 1st, 1834, and still continues to sustain 
that relation. Within one year after the organization of the church 
twenty-one members were added to the previous number. Some 
of these were received on their profession of faith, as the result of a 
measure of divine influence which had been shed down upon the 
congregation. In 183^ seventeen, and in 1832, ninety-one mem- 
bers were reported as having been received the preceding years, 
on profession. These were years of special divine influence. In 
1837 twenty-eight were reported as having been joined to the 
church by profession the preceding year. This was to some extent 
a year of the right hand of the Most High. This church has always 
supported its own minister without foreign aid, and has a commodi- 
ous house of worship, erected many years since. 

In the early part of the year 1840, some members of the church 
desired that Mr. Augustus Littlejohn should hold a protracted meet- 
ing with them. The pastor and others were opposed to it, not 
having confidence in the man. Under these circumstances the 
Methodist house of worship was obtained, and a meeting managed 
by Mr. Littlejohn, and for many days and nights in succession was 
attended. This meeting, it is said, was characterized by all the 
wildness, extravagance, and rant, peculiar to Mr. Littlejohn. But 
the effect was great, and many were said to be converted. The 
pastor of the Presbyterian church, and a large proportion of its 
members, stood aloof from the meeting. This gave disaffection to 
those who attended the meeting and approved of its proceedings, 
and they withdrew from the pastor and those who sympathized 
with him, and claimed to be the church, and as a separate church 
have ever since acted. The Presbytery, at a meeting held April 
29th, 1840, recognised Mr. Walker the pastor, and the members ad- 
hering to him, as the church of Dansville Village, and the others as 
seceders. This latter class constitute a separate church, under the 
care of the Presbytery of Angelica. It has a house of worship. 
There is also a house of worship belonging to the Lutherans, and 
another the property of the Methodists, in which regular services 
are maintained. 

Springwater. — This town was originally a part of the town of 
Naples. The settlement of it was commenced on the last day of 
March, 1807, by Mr. Seth Knowles and his family. At what time 
regular public worship was set up does not appear ; probably, not 
till several years had expired after the commencement of the settle- 
ment. While the population was sparse, Rev. Lyman Barrett, the 
pastor of the church of Naples, occasionally visited the place, and 
preached. On the tenth of February, 1821, he formed a Congre- 
gational church consisting of twelve members. The church was 



586 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



received under the care of the Presbytery of Ontario, Jan. 16th, 
1827. In 1843, the church consisted of forty-six members, the 
greatest number ever belonging to it at one time. In 1846, the 
number of members was thirty-six. The whole number who had 
been members at any time was one hundred and twenty-three. 
For about five years after the organization of the church, Mr. Bar- 
rett occasionally preached, and administered the sacraments, and 
acted as moderator in the church. After him Rev. James Cahoon 
performed similar services for about three years. Rev. Seymour 
Thompson was stated supply near three years. Rev. Daniel B. 
Woods was ordained and installed pastor, Sept. 19th, 1839, and 
was dismissed from his pastoral charge, August 25th, 1841. Rev. 
William Hunter succeeded Mr. Woods in October of the same 
year, and was ordained and installed pastor of the church, Sept. 
25th, 1844. He still retains his relation to the church. The most 
distinguished season of revival ever enjoyed by the church, was in 
1843, as the fruits of which, twenty members were added to the 
church by profession. In the support of Messrs. Thompson, 
Woods, and Hunter, the church has been aided by the American 
Home Missionary Society. They have a convenient house of wor- 
ship, fifty feet in length and thirty-six in breadth, which was dedi- 
cated to the service of Almighty God, Dec. 31st, 1840. The Me- 
thodists have a house of worship in the village, and are about equal 
in number to the Presbyterians. The Baptist church is smaller. 
The Christians have a small society and a house of worship. The 
Universalists are considerably numerous, but have no house of 
worship, and no regular preaching. 

Conhocton Second Church. — This church has its location in the 
north-western part of the town of Conhocton. It was organized 
about the period of 1836 or '37, consisting of a very small number of 
members living in the same neighborhood, and at such a distance 
from any other church, as to render it inconvenient to worship 
with them. The writer believes that the number of members never 
exceeded fifteen or sixteen. The church changed its form of go- 
vernment, and was received under the care of the Presbytery of 
Ontario, Sept. 18th, 1839. While Messrs. Thompson and Woods 
labored in Spring-water, they supplied this church a small part of 
the time. But for several years the church has been without 
preaching. Several of its members have gone to other parts, pub- 
lic worship has been suspended, and the church is virtually, if not 
formally, dissolved. 



587 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 

Presbytery of Angelica : — Dansville Free, Ossian, Portage, Portageville, Eagle, Cen- 
treville, Hume, Grove, Burns, Allen, Caneadea, Rushford, Farmersville, Black 
Creek, Haight, New Hudson, Belfast, Angelica, Almond, Amity, Friendship, Cuba, 
Burton, Olean, Sico, Andover, Independence. 

We shall next turn our attention to the history of the churches 
connected with 

THE PRESBYTERY OF ANGELICA. 

We begin with 

The Free Presbyterian Church of Dansville Village. — In giving 
the history of the original church of Dansville village, connected 
with the Presbytery of Ontario, we have related the origin of this 
church as found in a protracted meeting held by Mr. Littlejohn, in 
the early part of the year 1840. Whether the church received a. 
formal organization, or claimed to be the original church of Dans- 
ville village, is not certainly known to the writer. The church 
was received under the care of the Presbytery of Angelica, July 
15th, 1840, with a proviso that this act of reception should be sub- 
ject to the advice and order of the Synod. It does not appear that 
the Synod took any exceptions to the action of the Presbytery in 
the case. The church in 1843 was composed of two hundred and 
six members ; and in 1846, of two hundred and forty-two. Rev. 
Leverett Hull officiated here as stated supply for a season. Rev. 
D. N. Merritt was installed pastor of the church, July 11th, 1843. 
His continuance was for a brief period. He was dismissed April 
30th, 1844. Rev. Joel Wakeman preached for a short season as a 
stated supply, and was succeeded by Rev. William F. Curry, who 
was installed pastor of the church, June 25th, 1845. It has already 
been mentioned that the church has an appropriate house of wor- 
ship, and the other churches in the village have been noticed. 

Ossian. — This town was one of the first settled townships in the 
County of Allegany. The Presbyterian church was organized by 
Rev. Robert Hubbard, but the date is not known to the author. In 
1825 it numbered forty-nine members. From this date the number 
somewhat diminished till 1832, at which date it reported sixty-three 
members. In 1843 the number was one hundred and ten; and in 
1846 it was ninety. The church was received under the care of 



588 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



the Presbytery of Bath, August 29th, 1820, and was- transferred to 
the Presbytery of Angelica on the organization of that body. For 
many years the church was small and feeble, and enjoyed but very 
little ministerial aid, except an occasional service from Rev. Robert 
Hubbard, who had the charge of two extended congregations. The 
church is uniformly, with one exception, reported vacant till 1837. 
On the 13th of September, of that year, Rev. Ashbel Otis was or- 
dained and installed pastor of the church. On account of the failure 
of his health he was dismissed, Feb. 26th, 1839. The church has 
since been reported as having a stated supply, but the name is not 
given. In 1832, twenty-five members were reported as having the 
preceding year united with the church by profession. These were 
the fruits of a revival enjoyed by the church. The years 1837 and 
1840, were also years of revival. In looking at the reports of the 
American Home Missionary Society, the author finds the names of 
Rev. Messrs. Ludovicus Robbins, William P. Kendrick, Robert 
Hubbard, Ashbel Otis, and A. C. Dubois, as missionaries appointed 
to labor on this field at different periods. 

Portage. — This town was formerly a part of the town of Nunda, 
which in 1813 embraced the present towns of Nunda, Portage, 
Pike, Eagle, Centreville, Hume, Granger, and Grove. The author 
supposes that the settlement of the town commenced in the present 
town of Portage. In 1813 the settlement is noticed as of recent 
date. A Presbyterian church, denominated the First Presbyterian 
Church of Nunda, was organized and taken under the care of the 
Presbytery of Ontario, Jan. 18th, 1820. The church was situated 
within what was understood to be the proper limits of the Presby- 
tery of Angelica, and by letter from the Presbytery of Ontario be- 
came connected with the Presbytery of Angelica, Feb. 24th, 1829. 
Ever since that period it has been denominated the church of Port- 
age. In 1825, it numbered eighty-three members; in 1832, one 
hundred and eleven ; and in 1846, one hundred and fourteen. Rev. 
Phinehas Smith was ordained and installed pastor of the church, 
March 5th, 1829, and the relation w^s dissolved Feb. 24th, 1830. 
He was suceeded by Rev. Abel Caldwell, as stated supply, who 
continued five or six years, with the exception of an interval of one 
year, during which Rev. Horatio Waldo filled the place. Rev. 
James B. Wilson followed for a season, and was succeeded by Rev. 
L. Rogers, who probably continued one year. In the support of all 
these ministers the church has been aided by the American Home 
Missionary Society. What ministerial aid the church has enjoyed 
since 1837, is not known to the writer. It has been reported as 
statedly supplied. On the records of the Presbytery this church is 
repeatedly mentioned as having enjoyed a season of revivals ; but 
it does not appear from the Statistical Reports that any very con- 
siderable number of members were added to the church, as the 



PRESBYTERY OF ANGELICA. 



589 



fruits of these revivals. The writer believes that this church has 
for many years had an appropriate house of worship, but he is not 
positive as to this fact. 

Portageville. — This village is located in the town of Portage, 
on the line of the Genesee Valley Canal. A Presbyterian church 
was organized, and received under the care of the Presbytery of 
Angelica, Feb. 24th, 1829. The church gave notice of* its 
secession from the Presbytery, Jan. 10th, 1843, and it is now con- 
nected with the Presbytery of Buffalo City (Old School). In 1829, 
it reported eighteen members; in 1836, thirty-five ; and in 1846, 
forty-eight. The church is uniformly reported as having a stated 
supply, with the exception of 1834, when it was vacant. In May, 
1836, Rev. James B. Wilcox received a commission from the 
American Home Missionary Society to labor on this field, and he 
continued about two years. He was followed by Rev. Abel Cald- 
well, who continued one or two years, and he, by Rev. Lemuel 
Leonard, who was installed pastor of the church, Oct. 30th, 1839, 
and continued under the patronage of the same Society four years. 
In 1846, he was the pastor of the church, in connexion with the 
Presbytery of Buffalo City. This church has in a very gradual 
manner increased the number of its members from eighteen to 
forty-eight, which is the largest number found on record. It has 
an appropriate house of worship. There are also in the village 
two houses of worship for the Baptists, one for Methodists, and 
one for the Universalists. 

Eagle. — This church was received under the care of the Presby- 
tery of Angelica, July 13th, 1842. In 1843, it numbered thirty- 
seven members, and in 1846, thirty-five. In August, 1842, Rev. 
Smith Sturges commenced laboring on this field, including, also 
Centreville, and continued one year. He was followed by Rev. 
E. H. Danforth, for one year. Both these supplies were under the 
patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. Mr. Sturges 
reported a revival during his continuance, which seems to have 
added eighteen members to the church on profession. Mr. Dan- 
forth reported that a parsonage was erected. Whether they have 
an appropriate house of worship, is not known to the writer. 

Centreville. — This church, consisting of fourteen members, was 
organized by Rev. Silas Hubbard, July 25th, 1824, and was re- 
ceived under the care of the Presbytery of Genesee, August 3 1st, 
1824, and transmitted to the Presbytery of Angelica, Feb. 24th, 
1829. In 1825, it consisted of fifteen members ; in 1831, of thirty ; 
in 1843, of one hundred and nine ; and in 1846, of seventy-eight. 
As stated supplies, at different periods, have officiated Rev. Messrs. 
Silas Hubbard, Horatio Waldo, Horace Galpin, John T. Baldwin, 



590 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Lemuel Hall, Phineas Smith, Leonard Rogers, Samuel Sessions, 
Smith Sturges, and H. B. Taylor. In the support of all these 
ministers the church has received aid from the American Home 
Missionary Society. One or two seasons of revival, but not very 
extensive, have been enjoyed. This church has an appropriate 
house of- worship, and a parsonage. 

Hume. — This church was received under the care of the Pres- 
bytery of Angelica, Feb. 26th, 1834. In 1840, it reported twenty 
members; in 1843, one hundred and forty-two; and in 1846, one 
hundred and thirty. As stated supplies, under the patronage of 
the American Home Misssionary Society, Rev. Messrs. William J. 
Willcox, Hiram Gregg, G. S. Northrop, John Ingersoll, and John 
Van Antwerp, have officiated at different times. In 1834, this 
church is noticed on the minutes of the Presbytery, as having en- 
joyed a revival of religion. In 1843, under the ministry of Mr. 
Gregg, a revival was reported, during which as many as forty 
were hopefully converted to God. A house of worship was 
erected in 1842. 

A church was organized at Mixville, in the town of Hume, in 
1842, of the Congregational order, as the writer supposes. It is 
not connected with the Presbytery, and the writer is not informed 
of its state. 

Grove. — This church was received under the care of the Pres- 
bytery of Angelica, Aug. 39th, 1836. Rev. William P. Kendrick, 
under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, 
labored here and in Allen in the year 1836. The church was then, 
as the writer supposes, of recent formation. In 1837, it is report- 
ed as consisting of nineteen members. In 1840, it was reduced to 
the number of five. This is the last time it has been reported by 
the Presbytery. The writer supposes that it has become extinct. 

Burns. — This church is of comparatively recent organization. 
The author does not find the date of its organization, or of its re- 
ception by the Presbytery. It was first reported in 1837, consist- 
ing of twenty-nine members. In 1843, it numbered one hundred 
and twenty, and in 1846, one hundred and fifteen. Rev. Benjamin 
Russell was ordained and installed pastor of the church, Sept. 14th, 
1837. He was dismissed, August 28th, 1839. Rev. J. G. L. Has- 
kins officiated as stated supply the latter part of 1832, and former 
part of the succeeding year. In 1845, Rev. Royal Twitchell com- 
menced laboring here as a stated supply, and still continues his 
labors. Mr. Haskins reported a revival as connected with his 
labors. From 1840 to 1843, the church more than doubled its 
number of members, an indication of a work of grace in the con- 
gregation. In the support of its ministers the church has received 



PRESBYTERY OF ANGELICA. 



591 



the continued aid of the American Home Missionary Society. It 
has an appropriate house of worship, which was completed in 1842 
or 1843. 

Allen. — This church, consisting of ten members, was organized 
September 9th, 1826, by Rev. James H. Hotchkin and Rev. Robert 
Hubbard, and was received under the care of the Presbytery of 
Bath, October 4th of the same year. It was transferred to the 
Presbytery of Angelica on the organization of that body. In 1829, 
it reported forty members; in 1836, one hundred; and in 1846, 
fifty. On the records of the Presbytery of Angelica, under date of 
February 26th, 1839, it is noted that the church of Allen, reorga- 
nized, was received under the care of the Presbytery. The cause 
of this reorganization is not known to the writer ; but the circum- 
stance seems greatly to have diminished' the number of its mem- 
bers. Rev. Samuel Sessions was installed pastor of the church 
February 26th, 1840, and was dismissed July 14th, 1841. This is 
the only instance in which the church enjoyed the labors of a regu- 
larly installed pastor. As stated supplies at different periods, Rev. 
Messrs. Moses Hunter, Silas Hubbard, Loring Brewster, and John 
M. Bear, have served this church. Most of them at the same time 
have supplied another congregation. Mr. Hubbard labored under 
a commission from the Assembly's Board of Missions. The others 
were patronized by the American Home Missionary Society. The 
church has an appropriate house of worship. 

Caneadea. — The settlement of this town by white people is of 
recent date. Till within a few years past, the Indian Reservation 
included the whole, or at least a considerable proportion of it. The 
church was recently organized, and received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Angelica, January 13th, 1846. In that year it num- 
bered twenty-six members. Rev. Royal Twitchell preached in 
this place under the patronage of the American Home Missionary 
Society, one half of the time for three or four years. Whether the 
church has an appropriate house of worship is not known to the 
writer. 

Rushford. — This, as a newly organized church, was received 
under the care of the Presbytery of Angelica, April 17th, 1838. 
In 1840, it reported twenty-eight members; in 1843, eighty-three ; 
and in 1846, one hundred and sixteen. Rev. Messrs. Royal 
Twitchell, C. W. Gillam, and Samuel A. Rawson, have severally 
officiated as stated supplies, under the patronage of the American 
Home Missionary Society. Mr. Gillam, in 1843, reported a revival 
in the place resulting in the hopeful conversion of about forty indi- 
viduals. In consequence of this revival the number of the mem- 



592 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



bers of the church was much increased. This church has an ap- 
propriate house of worship. 

■* • 
Farmersville. — This church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Angelica, February 23d, 1830. The next year it 
reported seven members; in 1836, thirty ; and in 1840, fifteen. 
From its locality or other causes it appears to have been $ feeble 
church, and by an act of the Presbytery, July 9th, 1844, it was 
attached to the church of Franklinville. 

Black Creek. — The location of this church was in the present 
town of New Hudson. The settlement of the town commenced in 
1821, by Messrs. Davidson, Lyon, Eastwood, Burlingham, and 
M'Keen. Public worship was soon after set up. The church was 
organized by Rev. Robert Hubbard, in the year 1822. It was com- 
posed of six individuals, most or all of whom had been members of 
a church in the State of New Hampshire. It was received under 
the care of the Presbytery of Bath, September 11th, 1822, and on 
the organization of the Presbytery of Angelica, became connected 
with that body. In 1825, it consisted of eleven members. In 1833, 
it numbered forty-five : this is the highest number ever reported.' 
It was amalgamated with the church of Haight, August 29th, 1837, 
and the united church took the name of New Hudson. The church 
in its original state was generally reported vacant. It was, how- 
ever, to some extent, supplied by Rev. Reuben Hurd. 

There is another church now existing, called the church of Black 
Creek, which was formed of sixteen members seceding from the 
church of New Hudson. It is connected with the Presbytery of 
Buffalo City (Old School). In 1846, it numbered thirty-five mem- 
bers, and enjoyed the labors of Rev. Abel Caldwell as stated 
supply. 

Haight. — The present town of New Hudson was formerly named 
Haight. The church of that name was formed in 1828, by a divi- 
sion of the church of Black Creek with the aid of Rev. Moses 
Hunter. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of 
Angelica, February 28th, 1832. At that period it numbered thirty- 
seven members ; in 1834, seventy-nine ; and in 1887, sixty-four. 
It has generally been reported vacant. In the years 1822, '33, and 
'34, considerable additions were made to the church by profession, 
indicating the presence of the Holy Spirit in his converting influ- 
ences. This church was united with that of Black Creek, August 
29th, 1837, and in their united capacity were called the church of 
New Hudson. 

New Hudson. — This church, formed by the union of the churches 



PRESBYTERY OF ANGELICA. 



593 



of Black Creek and Haight, was reported in 1840 as consisting of 
ninety-two members; in 1843, of fifty-six; and in 1846, of sixty- 
four. In 1837, Rev. Asa S. Allen labored here as stated supply 
under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. 
He continued about one year. Rev. Royal Twitchell, under the 
same patronage, supplied one half of the time from March, 1841, 
for three years. What ministerial aid the church has enjoyed since 
the departure of Mr. Twitchell is not known to the writer. The 
church has received accessions by profession to its numbers ; but it 
does not appear that any great effusion of the Holy Spirit has been 
experienced. The church has an appropriate house of worship. The 
spirit of emigration has much diminished its numbers. Its members 
live intermixed with those of the old school church of Black Creek, 
also with Baptists, Methodists, and other denominations. 

Belfast. — This church was organized with eleven members, and 
was received under the care of the Presbytery of Angelica, Feb. 
23d, 1830. In 1831, it was reported by the Presbytery as vacant, 
and consisting of eleven members. It was never reported by the 
Presbytery after this date. Whether the church has become 
extinct, or has seceded from the Presbytery, is not known to the 
writer. 

Angelica. — Of the settlement of this place mention has been 
made in a preceding chapter. The first settlers were from differ- 
ent parts of Europe and the United States. Hence there was little 
similarity of character between the different members of the com- 
munity. A Reformed Dutch church was organized in Alfred, to 
which some individuals in Angelica attached themselves, but it 
soon became extinct. As early as 1810, perhaps more early, Rev. 
Samuel Parker, a missionary from the Missionary Society of Mas- 
sachusetts, visited this place repeatedly, and labored to some ex- 
tent. Rev. Robert Hubbard in the same capacity visited the place 
in 1811, and spent some time with the inhabitants, who manifested 
a wish for his continuance. A Presbyterian church consisting of 
eleven members, was organized, May 6th, 1812, by Rev. John 
Niles of Bath. The church was received under the care of the 
Presbytery of Geneva, August 19th, 1812. On the division of that 
body it was assigned to the Presbytery of Bath, and subsequently 
to the Presbytery of Angelica. In 1825, it numbered thirty-three 
members ; in 1829, ninety-two; in 1836, one hundred and eighty- 
five; and in 1846, sixty-one. Rev. Robert Hubbard was ordained 
and installed pastor of the church, August 20th, 1812. He was at 
the same time installed pastor of the church of Alfred (now Almond). 
He continued with the church of Angelica till Oct. 4th, 1826, when 
the pastoral relation was dissolved. He was succeeded by Rev. 
Moses Hunter, who was inducted into the pastorate, Nov. 15th, 

38 



594 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



1827, and continued till August 27th, 1833, when he received a 
dismission. The next pastor in succession was Rev. Leverett Hull, 
who was installed, Sept. 30th, 1835. He continued about two 
years, and was dismissed, August 30th, 1837. During the interval 
between the dismission of Mr. Hunter and the settlement of Mr. 
Hull, the pulpit was temporarily supplied by Rev. Samuel W. May. 
Since the dismission of Mr. Hull no pastor has been settled ; but 
different ministers have officiated from time to time as stated sup- 
plies For some time past Rev. Horace Fraser has been the stated 
supply. Soon after the organization of the church there was a re- 
vival under the ministry of Mr. Hubbard, which added nine mem- 
bers to the church by profession. Under the ministry of Mr. 
Hunter two very considerable periods of revival were enjoyed, and 
another under the ministry of Mr. Hull, which greatly enlarged the 
number of the members of the church. Since that period the num- 
ber has greatly diminished. This church has been aided in the 
support of its ministers a number of years, both by the General 
Assembly's Board of Missions, and the American Home Missionary 
Society. It has a house of worship, which is fifty feet in length, 
and forty in breadth, erected in 1828 or '29. The Episcopalians, 
Baptists, and Methodists, have places of worship in the village. 
The Presbyterian congregation is the largest. The Methodist 
next in number, and the Episcopal next. But a small proportion 
of the population of the town attend worship anywhere. 

Almond. — This tow T n was formerly a part of the town of Alfred. 
Of its early settlement, and the organization of a church of the Re- 
formed Dutch order, we have spoken in a former chapter. The 
existing church was organized on the Presbyterian platform, May 
5th, 1812, by Rev. John Niles of Bath. It consisted of twenty-one 
members, residing in Alfred and what is now Hornellsville, and 
was denominated the church of Alfred, which name was changed 
for that of Almond on the division of the town. The church was 
received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, August 19th, 
1812, and on the division of the Presbytery was transferred to the 
Presbytery of Bath, and subsequently to the Presbytery of Angeli- 
ca. In 1825, it numbered forty-one members; in 1833, one hun- 
dred and ten ; and in 1846, two hundred and ninety-eioht. Rev. 
Robert Hubbard was ordained and installed pastor of this church 
and that of Angelica, August 20th, 1812. His connexion with the 
church of Almond continued till Feb. 25th, 1829, when it was dis- 
solved. For three years after the dismission of Mr. Hubbard the 
church w 7 as without a pastor, but was supplied most of the time by 
Rev. James Cahoon and Rev. Lewis Cheeseman. Rev. Moses 
Hunter was installed as pastor, Sept. 18th, 1833, and sustained that 
relation till Feb. 26th, 1839, when he was dismissed. He was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. Abiel Parmele, who, as stated supply, continued 



PRESBYTERY OF ANGELICA. 



595 



with the church about five years. In September, 1844, Rev. Joel 
Wakeman, then a licentiate, was employed as a candidate for settle- 
ment. He was ordained and installed pastor of the church, Jan. 
14th, 1846, and is its present pastor. This church has been blessed 
with five general revivals. The first was in 1831, in connexion 
with the labors of Mr. Cahoon. Nearly one hundred members were 
added to the church as the fruits of this revival. The second was 
in 1834, under the ministry of Mr. Hunter. About thirty were 
added to the church. Again in 1837, under the ministry of Mr. 
Hunter, the Spirit was poured out, and as the result, forty-eight 
members were added to the church. The next revival was in 1843, 
under the ministry of Mr. Pa'imele, which resulted in the addition 
of twenty-seven members to the church. The latest revival was 
in 1845, under the labors of Mr. Wakeman ; twenty-six members 
were added to the church as its fruits. 

This church has always supported its ministers without foreign 
aid. A temporary house of worship was built at an early period, 
during the ministry of Mr. Hubbard, which was replaced by a new 
and commodious one, erected in 1834, at an expense of $3000. It 
is sixty feet in length, and forty in breadth. The average congre- 
gation upon the Sabbath is about three hundred. There is a Metho- 
dist congregation in the village, but it is small and weak, and has no 
appropriate house of worship. There is also a Baptist church, 
which has a good house of worship, but is barely able to support a 
pastor. A large proportion of the inhabitants attend no place of 
worship. 

Amity — The settlement of this place commenced in the year 
1806. There is a village in the town, located on the Genesee river, 
and on the line of the New York and Erie railroad, called Philips- 
burgh, or Philipsville. The latter is the name given to it in Dis- 
turnell's Gazetteer of New York. The house of worship belonging 
to the Presbyterian church is located in this village. The church 
is therefore sometimes called the church of Philipsburgh or Philips- 
ville, and at other times the church of Amity. Public worship was 
set up by the Baptists at an early period, and a church of that order 
was organized in 1809. The Presbyterian church, consisting of 
sixteen members, was organized by Rev. Moses Hunter, in 1832, 
and was received under the care of the Presbytery of Angelica, 
Feb. 28th, of that year. In 1834, the church reported forty-three 
members; in 1840, seventy-two; and in 3 846, fifty-seven. As 
stated supplies for different periods, Rev. Messrs. Jabez Spicer, 
Samuel W. May, O. S. Powell, Benjamin Russell, and Edward Rey- 
nolds, have officiated, the last three under the patronage of the 
American Home Missionary Society. Rev. Nathaniel Hammond 
is the officiating supply at the present time. Considerable additions 
to the church were reported in 1834, '40, and '43, indicating that 



596 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



the Spirit had been poured out in his converting influences upon the 
community. The church has an appropriate house of worship, forty 
feet in length, and thirty-six in breadth, which was erected in 1840. 
Wesleyan, and Episcopal Methodists, and some Episcopalians, are 
intermixed with the Presbyterians, but the great mass of the com- 
munity are of no denomination, and attend no place of worship. 

Friendship. — This town, formerly an integral part of the town 
of Caneadea, was erected into a separate town with its present 
name in 1815. The settlement was commenced in 1805, by 
Samuel Wardell, Esq., upon a lot which now composes the west- 
ern part of the village of Friendship. He cut the road by which 
he arrived at his lot. Messrs. Zebulon and John Gates, with their 
families, came in soon after. In 1806, Messrs. Elisha Strong, John 
Harrison, John Higgins, and George Higgins, arrived, and settled 
on Van Cam pen's Creek, two miles east of the village. From this 
period the settlement was more rapid. In the early settlement of 
the town, when the number of inhabitants was small, it was com- 
mon for the ladies to turn out and assist in raising their log-houses. 
The first frame building in the town was a barn, erected by 
Esq. Wardell, which is still standing. Occasional public worship 
was held here by Rev. Robert Hubbard, of Angelica, and Rev. 
Mr. Braman, of the Baptist Church. A few members of the 
Presbyterian order were connected with the church of Angelica, 
or constituted a branch of that church. The church as it now 
exists was organized by the Presbytery of Angelica, and received 
under the care of that body, August 26th, 1835. It consisted of 
sixty-one members, and it is a Congregational church, connected 
with the Presbytery on the accommodating plan. In 1843, it num- 
bered ninety members, and in 1846, one hundred and three. Rev. 
Messrs. Reuben Hurd, William Bridgman, John F. Bliss, Sylvester 
Cory, and Calvin Gray, have severally officiated in this place as 
stated supplies. In the early part of the year 1841, Rev. Charles 
Crocker, then a licentiate, commenced labor with the church, and 
was ordained and installed pastor, Feb. 9th, 1842. He still con- 
tinues in the pastorate. The church has enjoyed two general 
revivals of religion, the effects of which have been salutary and 
lasting. One of these was in 1839 : the other in 1843. The church 
has been aided in the support of almost all its ministers by the 
American Home Missionary Society. It has an appropriate house 
of worship, forty-five feet in length and thirty in breadth, which 
was erected in 1836. The Methodists, Seventh-day Baptists, and 
First-day Baptists, have churches in the town, all of which are of 
longer standing than the Presbyterian church. The First-day Bap- 
tist church is much the largest as to its number of members, while 
it about equals the Presbyterian in the number of attendants on its 
worship. Though there are many of the inhabitants of the town 



PRESBYTERY OF ANGELICA. 597 

who do not attend worship anywhere, still there is a greater pro- 
portion of them who are regular attendants at the house of God, 
than in former times. 

Cuba. — The settlement of this town commenced in 1815, by a 
few families from the northern and eastern part of the State. They 
are said to have been loose in principle and practice. They were 
followed by others in 1819 and 1820, some of whom were pious. 
Some meetings upon the Sabbath were held about this time, and 
Rev. Robert Hubbard, of Angelica, visited the place, and preached 
the first sermon ever delivered in the town. As characteristic of 
the man, it is said that he came with his portmanteau filled with 
crackers and other comfortables for a sick woman, a disciple of 
Jesus, at the house where he preached. Methodist and Baptist 
preachers followed, and occasionally preached in the place. But 
irreligion greatly'prevailed, and regular public worship was not 
established till 1827. A Presbyterian church, consisting of ten 
members, five males and five females, was organized by Rev. Reu- 
ben Hurd, July 19th, 1827. A few others soon united with them. 
The church was received under the care of the Presbytery of An- 
gelica, Feb. 24th, 1829. For several years the church was des- 
titute of stated preaching. Rev. Reuben Hurd and Rev. Moses 
Hunter occasionally preached, and otherwise assisted them, and 
some additions were made to the church. In 1832, it numbered 
thirty^two members; in 1834, one hundred and forty; in 1843, 
two hundred and two ; and in 1846, one hundred and eighty. In 
1835, forty-eight members received a dismission to form the church 
of Friendship. Near the commencement of the year 1833, Rev. 
Samuel W. May was employed as stated supply for one year, to 
preach half of the time in Friendship. Rev. William Bridgeman 
was employed for one year from the early part of 1835, to divide 
the time between Cuba and Friendship. From the close of Mr. 
Bridgeman's labors for more than a year, the church was without 
preaching, and in a broken condition. In April, 1837, Rev. Asa S. 
Allen came to reside in the place, and was employed as a stated 
supply to this church, and that of New Hudson. His labors were 
continued about nine years. In 1847, Rev. N. Leighton was or- 
dained and installed pastor of the church. Under the ministry of 
Mr. May there was a revival, as the result of which eighty-nine 
persons were added to the church. In 1838, the church was 
favored with another revival, and about fifty members were re- 
ceived to the communion of the church. The beginning of the 
next year was signalized by a display of the grace of God, and 
thirty or forty hopeful conversions took place. Two considerable 
revivals have since occurred, making goodly additions to the church. 
The church has been aided several years in the support of its 
ministers by the American Home Missionary Society. It has a 



598 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



house of worship, fifty feet in length and thirty-six in breadth, 
which was completed and dedicated in 1838. The Baptist de- 
nomination have a house of worship and a respectable church, for- 
merly prosperous, but latterly divided and distracted by Miller- 
ism, about one third of the church having seceded and set up 
worship by themselves. The Methodist church is small, and 
destitute of an appropriate house of worship. The Universalists 
have preaching a part of the time, but their congregation is small. 
The congregation uniting with the Presbyterian church includes 
about half who attend on any meeting for worship. 

Burton. — The name of this church was originally Great Valley. 
It was changed to Burton in 1834. It was received under the care 
of the Presbytery of Angelica, Feb. 23d, 1830. In 1831 it con- 
sisted of seven members. In J 836 it reported twenty-eight mem- 
bers. This is the largest number ever reported. In 1843 it was 
united with Olean. While in its separate existence it was generally 
reported vacant, and appears to have been in a very feeble condi- 
tion. 

Olean. — This town in 1813 comprehended the whole county of 
Cattaraugus. The settlement at Olean was commenced in 1803, 
by Major Adam Hoops, when the only access to the place was by 
an indifferent and circuitous road from the county of Steuben to 
King's settlement in Pennsylvania. The settlement did not pro- 
gress very rapidly. A Presbyterian church was organized, and re- 
ceived under the care of the Presbytery of Bath, Sept. 11th, 1822, 
and was assigned to the Presbytery of Angelica on the formation 
of that body. In 1825, it consisted of eight members ; and in 1840, 
of twenty-eight. This is the last enumeration which the author 
has seen. It has never flourished, and has generally been reported 
as vacant, and, as has been before stated, was in 1843 united with 
Burton. What has been the condition of the united church is not 
known to the writer. In the Statistical Reports of the Presbytery 
the name of neither church is found since 1840. It has a house of 
worship in the village of Olean, and there is another belonging to 
the Episcopal denomination. 

Scio. — A Presbyterian church was organized in the village of 
Wellsville in this town, by a committee of the Presbytery of Ange- 
lica, July 6th, 1841. In 1843 it reported twenty-two members; 
and in 1846, eighteen. The church has enjoyed the preaching of 
the gospel but a small part of the time, and is in a very feeble con- 
dition. 

Andover. — The settlement of this town was commenced in 1808, 
by four brothers from Poultney (Vt.), of the name of Baker. Soon 



PRESBYTERY OF ANGELICA. 



599 



afterwards Joseph Woodruff, from the same State, moved in. He 
was a member of a Congregational church, and the first professor 
of religion that settled in the town. Those who preceded him were 
supporters of religious order, but not members of any church. The 
son of Mr. Woodruff, three grand-children, and two great-grand- 
children, were members of the church in 1846. For a number of 
years very little preaching was enjoyed, but meetings were held on 
the Sabbath, and in the absence of a preacher sermons were read, 
and devotional exercises observed. In 1823 Deacon Asa S. Allen, 
now a minister of the gospel, moved into the place, and the next 
year, on the fourteenth day of July, a Congregational church, con- 
sisting of six members, of whom t hree were males, and three females, 
was organized by Rev. Robert Hubbard. This church, on the ac- 
commodating plan, was received under the care of the Presbytery 
of Bath, Jan. 30th, 1827. It was transferred to the Presbytery of 
Angelica when that body was organized. In 1827 it consisted of 
twenty-seven members ; in 1832, seventy-six ; and in 1846, fifty- 
two. The church has never had a regularly installed pastor. As 
stated supply, Rev. Silas Hubbard labored here one year half of 
the time. Rev. Jabez Spicer supplied this church, in connexion 
with Independence, under the patronage of the General Assembly's 
Board of Missions, three or four years, from February, 1830. Rev. 
Benjamin Russell supplied the two churches, under the patronage 
of the American Home Missionary Society, two or three years. 
Rev. James Conly took the charge of the two churches, as stated 
supply, at the commencement of the year 1845, and still continues. 
He, too, has been aided by the American Home Missionary Society. 
The largest number of members reported as received on profession 
in any one year, is sixteen. This was in 1846, and the result of a 
revival enjoyed. The church has a comfortable house of worship, 
forty feet in length, by thirty in breadth. They have also one hun- 
dred acres of wild land, a donation from the agent of the Pulteney 
estate, on which a parsonage has been erected. The Methodist 
denomination has a house of worship in the village, of about equal 
value with the Presbyterian house. The close communion Bap- 
tists have a church in the village, which meets for worship in a 
school- house. Each of these churches has preaching half of the 
time. There is no other denomination in the village. 

Independence. — The history of this church is in a great measure 
identified with that of Andover. The few professors of religion of 
the Presbyterian denomination in the town of Independence, were 
connected with the church of Andover. On the sixth day of Janu- 
ary, 1833, nine members of the church of Andover received letters 
of dismission for the purpose of being organized as a Presbyterian 
church in Independence. These, with some others, were soon after 
organized as a church, which was received under the care of the 



600 



WESTERN NEW YORK. 



Presbytery of Angelica, Sept. 18th, of the same year. In the enjoy- 
ment of ministerial labor this church has always been connected 
with Andover, the same minister dividing his time equally between 
the two churches. In 1833 the number of members reported was 
fourteen; in 1843, twenty-nine; and in 1846, twenty-six. This 
church has a lot of wild land of one hundred acres, but no appro- 
priate house of worship. The members of the church are dispersed 
throughout the town, and their meetings for worship are held in 
different places. The three prominent denominations of professing 
Christians in Independence, are the Methodists, close communion 
Baptists, and seventh day Baptists. Each of these denominations 
has an appropriate house of worship, and a well established con- 
gregation. 



THE END. 




M. W. DODD, 

PUBLISHER AND BOOKSELLER, 

Corner of Park Row and Spruce Sts., op2>osite City Hail, 
NEW YORK 

PUBLISHES AMONG OTHERS THE FOLLOWING : 



CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH'S WORKS, 

WITH AN INTRODUCTION 
BY MRS. HARRIET BEECHER STOWE, 

AND A PORTRAIT OP THE AUTHORESS 

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ligations and hopes of Christianity, as reflected from the Cros3 of 
Christ." — Albany Spectator. 

''• We mistake if this neatly-printed volume does not prove one of the 
most attractive religious works of the day. It presents the practical 
truths of religion, which all ought to know, free from the spirit of sect- 
arianism or controversy. The book is prepared for permanent use, and 
bids as fair, perhaps, as any book of the kind in our times, to live and 
speak long after the author shall have gone to test the realities he has 
so eloquently described." — Journal of Commerce. 

u Dr. Spring's new work, which we had occasion recently to announce, 
is very highly commended elsewhere. A New- York letter in the Boston 
Traveller thus introduces it to notice: — 'A new work of Dr. Spring 
B The Attraction of the Cross," has been published by M. W. Dodd, of 
this city. ... " The Attraction of the Cross" is destined to live among 
the very best productions of the church with which its respected author 
is connected. The style is remarkably pure, the arrangements of the 
topics lucid and methodical, and the arguments addressed with great 
fores to the reason and conscience. It will stand by the side of ■ "Dod- 
dridge's Rise and Progress," - Wilberforce's View." or the " Way of 
Life." in the libraries of future generations.' "—A'evurk Daily Adv. 

" None will wonder at the rare success which this volume has won, 
who \ we read it. F t comprehensiveness of views, beautj of style and 
excellence and fervor of devotional feeling, few works have lately ap- 
peared that surpass it." — Nrw-York Evungelist. 

<l The grand relations of the Cross. i:s holy influences, its comforts and 
its triumphs, are here exhibited in a manner cheering to the heart of 
the Christian. And the {erusal of this book will, we venture to say 
greatly assist and comfort :he children of God.. . ." — Presbyterian. 



M . W . D 0 1) D , 

IN ADDITION TO 

HIS OWN PUBLICATIONS, 

HAS ON. HAND AT ALL TIMES A GOOD SUPPLY 
OF WORKS IN 

RELIGIOUS, THEOLOGICAL, 
Btanirctrir & Jlliscdlatuoua Citeratttr*, 
SCHOOL BOOKS, &c. 

AND IS RECEIVING CONSTANTLY 

NEW WORKS, 

AS THEY ARE ISSUED FROM THE PRESS, 
ALL OF WHICH HE WILL, SELL, AT 

WHOLESALE OR RETAIL, 



ON THE MOST FAVORABLE TERMS. 

/ 



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